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HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS 


OF  THE 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK; 

BEING 

A  GENERAL  COLLECTION  OF  THE  MOST  INTERESTING  FACTS,  BIOGRAPHICAL 
SKETCHES,  VARIED  DESCRIPTIONS,  &c. 

RELATING  TO  THE 


PAST  AND  PRESENT; 

WITH 


GEOGRAPHICAL  DESCRIPTIONS 

OF  THE 

COUNTIES,  CITIES,  AND  PRINCIPAL  VILLAGES 


THROUGHOUT  THE  STATE. 


Illustrated  by  numerous  Engravings. 


BY  JOHN  W.  BARBER, 

AUTHOR  OP  THE  ELEMENTS  OF  GENERAL  HISTORY,  AND  THE  CONNECTICUT 
AND  MASSACHUSETTS  HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


[Arms  of  the  State  of  New  York.] 


[More  elevated.] 


NEW  YORK: 

PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR, 

BY  CLARK,  AUSTIN  &  CO.,  205  BROADWAY. 

1851. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851, 
By  John  W.  Barber, 

in  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


PREFACE. 


The  design  of  this  volume  is  to  give  an  account  of  the  most  im¬ 
portant  and  interesting  events  relating  to  the  history  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  from  its  settlement  to  the  present  time,  with  geographical 
descriptions,  illustrated  by  numerous  engravings.  In  preparing  the 
first  edition  of  this  work,  the  author  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Henry 
Howe,  the  author  of  the  Historical  Collections  of  Virginia  and  Ohio. 

The  first  edition  of  this  work  was  published  ten  years  since.  Sev¬ 
eral  editions  have  been  issued  since  that  period ;  the  most  recent  was 
by  Messrs.  H.  &  E.  Phinney,  of  Cooperstown,  in  1846.  This  was 
a  condensed  work  from  previous  editions,  and  left  out  much  dry 
detail,  which  could  be  found  in  several  other  works  published  in  the 
State.  The  present  edition  is  a  reprint  from  the  last,  with  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  valuable  matter,  and  statistical  information  brought  down  to 
the  present  time. 

In  collecting  the  materials  and  preparing  them  for  publication,  and 
in  making  the  drawings  for  the  engravings,  each  of  the  compilers  of 
the  original  work  spent  more  than  a  year  of  close  and  laborious  appli¬ 
cation.  They  visited  every  part  of  the  state,  and  besides  travelling 
thousands  of  miles  in  the  public  conveyances,  journeyed  many  hun¬ 
dreds  on  foot. 

Although  conscious  of  having  used  every  effort  which  could  be  rea¬ 
sonably  expected,  in  order  to  have  the  work  accurate  in  every  respect, 
yet  experience  has  taught  us  not  to  claim  an  entire  exemption  from 
those  imperfections  ever  attendant  on  works  of  this  kind.  Travellers, 
in  giving  accounts  of  foreign  countries,  their  history,  &c.,  may  make 
statements  at  random,  which  may  pass  for  truth  when  there  is  no  one 
at  hand  able  to  correct  their  errors.  This  volume  will  come  before 
many  persons,  who,  on  some  subjects  introduced,  have  better  means 
of  information  than  the  compilers  of  the  original  work.  A  certain 
writer  defines  history  to  be  merely  “  an  approximation  towards  truth.” 
Although  this  humiliating  statement  will  not  be  allowed  to  its  full  ex¬ 
tent,  yet,  when  the  imperfection  of  every  thing  human  is  considered, 
it  must  be  confessed  to  have  some  foundation  in  truth. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  work,  the  compiler  has  availed  himself  of 
the  labors  of  those  who  have  preceded  him.  The  historian  of  necessi- 


IV 


PREFACE. 


ty  derives  his  information  from  others.  It  will  be  observed  that  quo¬ 
tations  have  been  made  from  a  great  variety  of  publications,  to  which, 
in  most  instances,  credit  has  been  given.  It  was  thought  advisable  to 
have  each  author  give  his  testimony  in  his  own  words,  from  which  the 
reader  can  draw  his  own  inferences.  Truth  ought  always  to  be  pre¬ 
ferred  before  elegance  of  language.  In  the  geographical  department, 
much  information  has  been  derived  from  Spafford’s  and  Gordon’s 
Gazetteers.  Spafford  may  be  considered  as  the  pioneer  in  furnishing 
geographical  descriptions  of  the  state  ;  his  first  Gazetteer  was  published 
in  1813,  the  second  in  1824.  The  Gazetteer  by  Mr.  Gordon,  an  able 
work  of  800  closely  printed  octavo  pages,  was  published  in  1836.  A 
valuable,  though  smaller  work  of  the  same  kind,  was  published  by 
Mr.  Disturnell  in  1842. 

The  numerous  engravings  interspersed  throughout  this  volume, 
were,  with  few  exceptions,  copied  from  original  drawings  taken  on  the 
spot.  The  principal  object  was  to  give  faithful  representations,  rather 
than  picturesque  views,  or  beautiful  specimens  of  art.  Before  decid¬ 
ing  that  any  of  these  representations  are  incorrect,  our  readers  should 
consider  that  the  appearance  of  any  place  will  be  materially  altered  by 
viewing  it  from  different  points  of  observation.  In  order  to  form  an 
entirely  correct  judgment,  it  will  be  necessary  to  stand  on  the  spot  from 
whence  the  drawing  was  taken. 


J.  W.  B. 


COUNTIES,  TOWNSHIPS,  VILLAGES. 


Adams,  117. 
Addison,  332. 
Alabama,  107. 
Albion,  275,  276. 
Alden,  88. 

Albany,  45. 
Albany  Co.,  45. 
Alfred,  53. 
Alexandria,  116. 
Allen,  53. 
Alexander,  107. 
Almond,  53. 
Allegany  Co.,  53. 
Amboy,  276. 
Amenia,  84. 
Amherst,  88. 
Amity,  53. 
Amsterdam,  146. 
Ancram,  76. 
Andes,  81. 
Andover,  53. 
Angelica,  53. 
Annsville,  227. 
Antwerp,  116. 
Arcadia,  354. 
Argyle,  348. 
Arietta,  112. 
Arkwright,  65. 
Ashford,  64. 
Astoria,  292. 
Athens,  111,  109. 
Athol,  344. 

Attica,  366. 
Auburn,  59. 
Augusta,  227. 
Aurelius,  59. 
Aurora,  88,  63. 
Austerlitz,  76. 

Au  Sable,  72. 
Avon,  139,  135. 
Avon  Springs,  135. 

Bainbridge,  71. 
Baldwinsville,  254. 
Ballston,  309. 
Ballston  Spa,  309. 
Bangor,  100. 
Barcelona,  67. 
Barker,  56. 

Barre,  275. 
Barrington,  367. 
Barton,  338 


Batavia,  107. 

Bath,  332. 

Bedford,  356,  364. 
Beekman,  84. 
Beekmantown,  72. 
Belfast,  53. 

Belmont,  100. 
Bennington,  366. 
Benton,  367. 

Bergen,  107. 
Berkshire,  338. 
Berlin,  294. 

Berne,  45. 

Bethany,  107. 

Bethel,  337. 
Bethlehem,  45. 

Big  Flats,  67. 
Binghamton,  56. 
Birdsall,  53. 

Black  Brook,  72. 
Black  Rock,  88. 
Bleeker,  102. 
Blenheim,  329. 
Bloomingsburg,  337. 
Blooming  Grove,  262. 
Bolivar,  53. 

Bolton,  344. 

Bombay,  100. 
Boonville,  227. 
Boston,  88. 

Bovina,  81. 

Boylston,  276. 
Bradford,  332. 
Brandon,  100. 
Brasher,  304. 

Brant,  88. 
Bridgewater,  227. 
Brighton,  143. 

Bristol,  256. 
Broadalbin,  102. 
Brockport,  145. 
Brookfield,  140. 
Brookhaven,  333. 
Brooklyn,  126. 
Broome  Co.,  56. 
Broome,  329. 
Brownville,  116. 
Brunswick,  294. 
Brutus,  59. 

Buffalo,  88. 
Burlington,  281. 
Burns,  53. 


Bushwick,  126. 
Burton,  64. 

Busti,  65. 

Butler,  354. 
Butternuts,  281. 
Byron,  107. 

Cairo,  109. 

Cahoes,  52. 

Caldwell,  344. 
Caledonia,  135. 
Cambridge,  348. 
Camillus,  243. 
Campbell,  332. 
Cambria,  215. 
Camden,  227. 
Cameron,  332. 
Canaan,  76. 
Canajoharie,  146. 
Canandaigua,  256. 
Canadice,  256. 
Candor,  338. 
Caneadea,  53. 
Canisteo,  332. 
Canton,  308 
Carlton,  275. 
Caroline,  340. 
Carlisle,  329. 

Carmel,  287. 

Carrol,  65. 

Caton,  332. 

Castile,  366. 
Castleton,  294. 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  64. 
Catherines,  67. 
Catlin,  67. 

Cato,  59. 

Catskill,  109. 
Caughnawaga,  146. 
Cayuga  Co.,  59. 
Cayuga,  63. 

Cayuta,  67. 
Cazenovia,  140. 
Centreville,  53. 
Champion,  116. 
Champlain,  72. 
Charlotte,  65. 
Charleston,  146. 
Charlton,  309. 
Chateaugua,  100. 
Chatham,  76. 
Chatauoue  Co.,  65. 


Chatauque,  65. 
Chazy,  72. 
Chemung,  67. 
Chemung  Co.,  67. 
Chenango,  56. 
Chenango  Co.,  70. 
Cherry  Valley,  283 
Cherry  Creek,  65. 
Chester,  344. 
Chesterfield,  95. 
Chictawaga,  88. 
Chili,  143. 

China,  366. 
Chittenango,  142. 
Cincinnatus,  80. 
Cicero,  243. 
Clarence,  88. 
Clarendon,  275. 
Clarkson,  143. 
Clarkstown,  300. 
Clarkesville,  53. 
Claverack,  76. 
Clay,  243. 

Clayton,  116. 
Clermont,  76. 
Clifton  Park,  309. 
Clinton  Co.,  75. 
Clinton,  84. 

Clyde,  355. 

Clymer,  65. 
Cobleskill,  329. 
Cochecton,  337. 
Coeymans,  45. 
Colchester,  81. 
Colden,  88. 
Colesville,  56. 
Coldspring,  287,  64 
Collins,  88. 
Columbia,  112. 
Columbia  Co.,  76. 
Columbus,  71. 
Concord,  88. 
Conesville,  329. 
Conesus,  135. 
Coney  Island,  126. 
Conhocton,  332. 
Conklin,  56. 
Connewango,  64. 
Conquest,  59. 
Constable,  100. 
Constantia,  276. 
Copake,  76. 


6 


Cooperstown,  281. 
Corinth,  309. 
Cornwall,  262. 
Cortlandt,  80,  356. 
Cortland  Co.,  80. 
Cortlandville,  80. 
Coventry,  71. 

Covert,  330. 
Covington,  366. 
Coxsackie,  109. 
Crawford,  262. 
Croghan,  134. 

Crown  Point,  95. 
Cuba,  53. 

Danby,  340.  * 
Danube,  112. 
Dansville,  138,  332. 
Darien,  107. 
Davenport,  81. 

Day,  309. 

Dayton,  64. 

Decatur,  281. 
Deerfield,  227. 

Deer  Park,  262. 

De  Kalb,  304. 
Delaware  Co.,  81. 
Delhi,  81. 

Denmark,  134. 
Depeyster,  304. 
Deposit,  304. 

De  Ruyter,  140. 
Dewitt,  243. 

Diana,  134. 
Dickenson,  100. 

Dix,  67. 

Dobb’s  Ferry,  302. 
Dover,  84. 

Dresden,  348. 
Dryden,  340. 

Duane,  100. 
Duanesburg,  322. 
Dundee,  368. 
Dunkirk,  66. 
Durham,  109. 
Dutchess  Co.,  84. 

Eagle,  53. 

East  Bloomfield,  256. 
East  Chester,  356. 
East  Hampton,  333. 
Easton,  348. 

Eaton,  140. 

Eden,  88. 

Edinburg,  309. 
Edmeston,  281. 
Edwards,  304. 

Elba,  107. 

Elbridge,  243. 
Ellenburg,  72. 

Ellery,  65. 

Ellicott,  65. 
Ellicottville,  64. 


COUNTIES,  TOWNSHIPS,  VILLAGES. 


Ellington,  65. 
Ellisburg,  116. 
Elmira,  67. 
Elizabethtown,  95. 
Enfield,  340. 

Ephrata,  102. 

Erie  Co.,  87. 

Erwin,  332. 

Erin,  67. 

Esopus,  341. 

Essex,  95. 

Essex  Co.,  95. 

Evans,  88. 

Exeter,  281. 

Fabius,  243. 

Fairfield,  112. 
Fallsburg,  337. 
Farmersville,  64. 
Farmington,  256. 

Far  Rockaway,  292. 
Fayette,  330. 
Fayetteville,  254. 
Fenner,  140. 

Fishkill,  87. 

Flatbush,  126. 
Flatlands,  126. 
Fleming,  59. 
Florence,  227. 
Florida,  146. 

Floyd,  227. 

Flushing,  291. 
Forrestburg,  337. 

Fort  Ann,  348. 

Fort  Edward,  348. 
Fort  Covington,  100. 
Fort  Plain,  152. 
Fowler,  304. 
Frankfort,  112. 
Franklin,  81,  82. 
Franklin  Co.,  100. 
Franklinville,  64. 
Fredonia,  66. 
Freedom,  64. 
Freetown,  80. 

French  Creek,  65. 
French  Mills,  100. 
Friendship.  53. 
Fulton,  280,  329. 
Fultonville,  153. 

Gaines,  275. 
Gainesville,  366. 
Galen,  354. 

Gallatin,  76. 

Galway,  309. 
Gardner’s  Island, 336. 
Gates,  143. 

Geddes,  244. 
Genesee,  53. 

Genesee  Co.,  107. 
Geneseo,  135. 

Genoa,  59. 


Geneva,  260. 
Georgetown,  140. 
German  Flats,  112. 
German,  71. 
Germantown,  76. 
Gerry,  65. 

Ghent,  76. 

Gilman,  112. 

Glen,  146. 

Glenn  Falls,  347. 
Glenville,  322. 
Gorham,  256. 
Goshen,  267. 
Gouverneur,  304. 
Grafton,  294. 
Granby,  276. 
Granger,  53. 
Granville,  348. 
Gravesend,  126. 
Great  Valley,  64. 
Greece,  143. 
Greenbush,  298. 
Greene  Co.,  108. 
Greene,  71. 
Greenport,  76,  335. 
Greenfield,  309. 
Greensburg,  356. 
Greenville,  109. 
Greenwich,  348. 
Greenwood,  332. 
Greig,  134. 

Groton,  340. 

Grove,  53. 
Groveland,  135. 
Guilderland,  45. 
Guilford,  71. 

Hadley,  309. 
Hague,  344. 

Half  Moon,  309. 
Hallet’s  Cove,  292. 
Hamburgh,  88. 
Hamilton,  140. 
Hamilton  Co.,  111. 
Hammond,  304. 
Hamden,  81. 
Hampton,  348. 
Hamptonburg,  262. 
Hancock,  81. 
Hannibal,  276. 
Hanover,  65. 
Harlaein,  207. 
Harmony,  65. 
Harpersfield,  81. 
Harrisburg,  134. 
Harrison,  356. 
Hartford,  348. 
Hartland,  215. 
Hartwick,  281. 
Hastings,  276. 
Havana,  70. 
Haverstraw,  300. 
Hebron,  348. 


Hector,  340. 
Hempstead,  293. 
Henderson,  116. 
Henrietta,  143. 
Herkimer  Co.,  112. 
Herkimer,  113. 
Hermon,  304. 
Hillsdale,  76. 
Hinsdale,  64. 
Holland,  88. 

Homer,  80. 

Hoosick,  294. 

Hope,  112. 
Hopkinton,  304 
Hopewell,  256. 
Horicon,  344. 
Hornby,  332. 
Hornelsville,  332. 
Hounsfield,  116. 
Howard,  332. 
Hudson,  76. 

Hume,  53. 
Humphrey,  64. 
Hunter,  109. 
Huntington,  333. 
Hurley,  341. 

Huron,  354. 

Hyde  Park,  87. 

Independence,  53. 
Ira,  59. 

Irondequoit,  143. 
Islip,  333. 

Italy,  367. 

Ithaca,  340. 

Jackson,  348. 
Jamaica,  291. 
Jamestown,  65. 
Jasper,  332. 

Jay,  95. 

Java,  366. 

Jefferson,  329. 
Jefferson  Co.,  116. 
Jerusalem,  367. 
Johnsburg,  344. 
Johnstown,  102. 
Jordan,  254. 

Junius,  330. 

Keene,  95. 
Keesville,  95. 
Kendall,  275. 

Kent,  287. 
Kinderhook,  76. 
Kingsbury,  348. 
Kings  Co.,  126. 
Kingston,  340. 
Kirkland,  227. 

Knox,  45. 

Kortright,  81. 

Lafayette,  243. 


COUNTIES,  TOWNSHIPS,  VILLAGES. 


La  Grange,  84. 
Lake  Pleasant,  112. 
Lancaster,  88. 
Lansing,  340. 
Lansinburg,  298. 
Laurens,  281. 
Lawrence,  304 
Lebanon,  140. 

Lee,  227. 

Ledyard,  59. 
Leicester,  135. 
Lenox,  140. 

Leon,  64. 

Le  Ray,  116. 

Le  Roy,  107. 

Lewis,  95. 
Lewisboro,  356. 
Lewis  Co.,  134. 
Lewiston,  215. 
Lexington,  109. 
Leyden,  134. 

Liberty,  337. 

Lima,  139,  135. 
Lincklaen,  71. 
Lindley,  332. 

Lisbon,  304. 

Lisle,  56. 

Litchfield,  112. 

Little  Falls,  114. 
Little  Valley,  64. 
Liverpool,  244. 
Livingston,  76. 
Livingston  Co.,  135. 
Livonia,  135. 

Locke,  59. 

Lockport,  215. 

Lodi,  330. 

Long  Island, 139. 
Long  Lake,  112. 
Lorraine,  116. 
Louisville,  304. 
Lowville,  134. 
Lumberland,  337. 
Luzerne,  344. 

Lyme,  116. 

Lyndon,  64. 

Lyons,  354. 
Lysander,  243. 

Machias,  64. 
Macedon,  354. 
Macomb,  12. 
McDonough,  71. 
Madison,  140. 
Madison,  140. 
Madrid,  304. 

Malone,  100. 

Malta,  309. 
Mamakating,  337. 
Mamaroneck,  356. 
Manhattanville,  207. 
Marlborough,  341. 
Marcellus,  243,  254. 


Manchester,  256. 
Manheim,  112. 
Manlius,  253. 
Mansfield,  64. 
Marathon,  80. 
Marbletown,  341. 
Marion,  354. 

Marcy,  227. 
Marshall,  227. 
Martinsburg,  134. 
Maryland,  281. 
Masonville,  81. 
Massena,  304. 
Mattawan,  86 
Mayfield,  102. 
Mayville,  65. 

Medina,  275. 
Mendon,  143. 

Mentz,  59. 

Meredith,  81. 

Mexico,  276. 
Middlebury,  366. 
Middleburg,  329. 
Middlefield,  281. 
Middlesex,  367. 
Middletown,  262,  81. 
Milan,  84. 

Milford,  281. 

Milton,  309. 

Milo,  367. 

Mina,  65. 

Minden,  146. 
Minerva,  95. 
Minisink,  262. 
Mohawk,  146. 

Moira,  100. 

Monroe,  262. 

Monroe  Co.,  143. 
Montezuma,  63. 
Montgomery,  267. 
Montgomery  Co., 145 
Monticello,  337. 
Mooers,  72. 

Moravia,  59. 

Moreau,  309. 
Morehouse,  112 
Moriah,  95. 
Morrisiana,  365. 
Morrisville,  140. 
Morristown,  304. 
Mount  Hope,  262. 
Mount  Morris,  138. 
Mount  Pleasant,  356. 
Murray,  275. 

Nanticoke,  56. 
Naples,  256. 

Napoli,  64. 

Nassau,  294. 

Nelson,  140. 
Neversink,  337. 

New  Albion,  64. 
Newark,  388. 


New  Baltimore,  109. 
New  Berlin,  71. 
Newburg,  262. 
Newcastle,  356. 
Newcomb,  95. 
Newfield,  340. 

New  Fane,  215. 

New  Hartford,  227. 
New  Haven,  276. 
New  Hudson,  53. 
New  Lebanon,  76. 
New  Lisbon,  281. 
New  Paltz,  341. 
Newport,  112. 

New  Rochelle,  365. 
New  Scotland,  45. 
Newstead,  88. 
Newtown,  291. 

New  Utrecht,  126. 
New  Windsor,  262. 
New  York  Co.,  154. 
Niagara,  215. 
Niagara  Co.,  215. 
Nichols,  338. 

Niles,  59. 

Niskayuna,  322. 
Norfolk,  304. 
Northampton,  102. 
North  Castle,  356. 
Northfiold,  299. 

N.  Hempstead,  291. 
North  East,  84. 

North  Salem,  356. 
Northumberland,  309. 
Norway,  112. 
Norwich,  71. 

Nunda,  53. 

Ohio,  112. 

Ogden,  143. 
Ogdensburg,  304. 
Olean,  64. 

Olive,  341. 

Oneida  Co.,  227. 
Oneonta,  281. 
Onondaga,  243. 
Onondaga  Co.,  243. 
Ontario,  354. 
Ontario  Co.,  256. 
Oppenheim,  102. 
Oquago,  58. 

Orange  Co.,  262. 
Orange,  332. 
Orangetown,  300 
Orangeville,  366. 
Oriskany,  235. 
Oriskany  Falls, 
Orleans,  116. 
Orleans  Co.,  274. 
Orwell,  276. 

Ossian,  53. 

Ossissing,  356. 
Oswegatchie,  304. 


Oswego,  276. 
Oswego  Co.,  275. 
Owego,  338. 

Otego,  281. 

Otisco,  243. 

Otto,  64. 

Otsego,  281. 
Otsego  Co.,  280. 
Otselic,  71. 

Ovid,  330. 

Owasco,  59. 

Oxford,  71. 

Oyster  Bay,  291. 

Painted  Post,  332. 
Palatine,  146. 
Palermo,  276. 
Pamelia,  116. 
Palmyra,  354. 
Paris,  227. 

Parish,  276. 
Parishville,  304. 
Parma,  143. 
Patchogue,  335. 
Paterson,  287. 
Pavilion,  107. 
Pawling,  84. 
Peekskill,  356. 
Pelham,  356. 
Pembroke,  107. 
Pendleton,  215. 
Penfield,  143. 

Penn  Yan,  367. 
Perrinton,  143. 
Perry,  366. 
Perrysburg,  64. 
Persia,  64. 

Peru,  72. 
Petersburg,  294. 
Perth,  102. 
Pharsalia,  71. 
Phelps,  256. 
Philadelphia,  116. 
Phillipstown,  287. 
Pierrepont,  304. 
Piermont,  302. 

Pike,  53. 

Pinckney,  134. 

Pine  Plains,  84. 
Pitcairn,  304. 
Pitcher,  71. 
Pittsfield,  281. 
Pittsford,  143. 
Pittstown,  294. 
Plainfield,  281. 
Plattekill,  341. 
Plattsburg,  72. 
Pleasant  Valley,  84, 
Plymouth,  71. 
Poland,  65. 

Pomfret,  65. 
Pompey,  243,  254 
Portage,  53. 


8 


Porter,  215. 

Portland,  65,  67. 

Port  Byron,  63. 

Port  Chester,  365. 
Port  Genesee, 
Portville,  64. 
Potsdam,  308. 

Potter,  367. 
Poughkeepsie,  84. 
Poundridge,  356. 
Prattsburg,  332. 
Prattsville,  109. 
Preble,  80. 

Preston,  71. 
Princeton,  322. 
Providence,  309. 
Pulaski,  280. 
Pulteney,  332. 
Putnam  Co.,  287. 
Putnam  Valley,  287. 
Putnam,  348. 

Queensbury,  344. 
Queens  Co.,  290. 

Ramapo,  300. 
Randolph,  64. 
Reading,  332 
Redfield,  276. 
Redhook,  84. 
Remsen,  227. 
Rensselaer  Co.,  294. 
Rensselaerville,  45. 
Rhinebeck,  84. 
Ridgeway,  275. 
Richfield,  281. 
Richford,  338. 
Richland,  276. 
Richmond,  256. 
Richmond  Co.,  299. 
Riga,  143. 

Ripley,  65. 

Riverhead,  335. 
Rochester,  341,  143. 
Rockland,  337. 
Rockland  Co.,  300. 
Rodman,  116. 

Rome,  227. 

Romulus,  330. 
Rondout,  342. 

Root,  146. 

Rossie,  304. 

Rose,  354. 
Rotterdam,  322. 
Roxbury,  81. 
Royalton,  215. 

Rush,  143. 

Rushford,  53. 

Russell,  304. 

Russia,  112. 

Rutland,  116. 

Rye,  356. 


COUNTIES,  TOWNSHIPS,  VILLAGES. 


Sacketts  Harbor,  117. 
Sagg  Harbor,  333. 

St.  Johnsville,  146. 
St.  Regis,  101. 

Salem,  350. 

Salina,  244. 

Salisbury,  112. 
Sanford,  56. 
Sandlake,  294. 

Sandy  Creek,  276. 
Sandy  Hill,  350. 
Sangerfield,  227. 
Saranac,  72. 
Saratoga,  310. 
Sardinia,  88. 
Saratoga  Co.,  309. 
Saratoga  Springs, 310. 
Saugerties,  341. 
Savannah,  354. 
Sawpits,  365. 
Scarsdale,  356. 
Schaghticoke,  294. 
Schenectady  Co., 
322. 

Schenectady,  323. 
Schoharie,  329. 
Schoharie  Co.,  328. 
Schodac,  294. 
Schroon,  95. 
Schroeppel,  276. 
Schuyler,  112. 
Schuylerville,  310. 
Scio,  53. 

Scipio,  59. 

Scott,  80. 

Scriba,  276. 
Sempronius,  59. 
Seneca,  256. 

Seneca  Co.,  330. 
Seneca  Falls,  330. 
Sennet,  59. 

Seward,  329. 
Setauket,  335. 
Shandaken,  341. 
Sharon,  322. 
Shawangunk,  341. 
Shelby,  275. 

Shelter  Island,  333. 
Sheldon,  366. 
Sherburne,  71. 
Sheridan,  65. 
Sherman,  65. 

Sidney,  81. 

Sing  Sing,  360. 
Skaneateles,  251. 
Sleepy  Hollow,  360. 
Smithfield,  140. 
Smithtown,  333. 
Smithville,  71. 
Smyrna,  71. 

Sodus,  354. 

Solon,  80. 

Somers,  356. 


Somerset,  215. 

South  Bristol,  256. 
South  East,  287. 
Southfield,  299. 
Southampton,  335. 
Southold,  333. 
Southport,  67. 
Spafford,  243. 

Sparta,  135. 

Spencer,  338. 
Springfield,  281. 
Springport,  59. 
Springwater,  135. 
Stamford,  81. 
Stafford,  107. 
Stanford,  84. 

Stark,  112. 

Starkey,  367. 
Stephentown,  294. 
Sterling,  59. 

Steuben,  227. 
Steuben  Co.,  332. 
Stillwater,  315. 

St.  Lawrence  Co., 
304. 

Stockbridge,  140. 
Stockholm,  304. 
Stockport,  76. 
Stockton,  65. 
Stratford,  102. 
Stuyvesant,  76. 
Suffolk  Co.,  333. 
Sullivan,  140. 
Sullivan  Co.,  337. 
Summer  Hill,  59. 
Summit,  329. 
Sweden,  143. 
Syracuse,  244. 

Taghkanie,  76. 
Tappan,  302. 
Tarrytown,  358. 
Thompson,  337. 
Ticonderoga,  95. 
Tioga,  338. 

Tioga  Co.,  338. 
Tompkins,  81. 
Tompkins  Co.,  339. 
Tonawanda,  94. 
Trenton,  227. 
Triangle,  56. 
Troupsburg,  332. 
Troy,  294. 
Trumansburg,  340. 
Traxton,  80. 

Tully,  243. 

Turin,  134. 

Tyre,  330. 

Tyrone,  332. 

Ulster  Co.,  341. 
Ulsterville,  343. 
Ulysses,  340. 


Unadilla,  281. 

Union,  350,  56. 

Union  Vale,  84. 
Union  Village,  350 
Urbana,  332. 

Utica,  227. 

Valatie,  77. 

Van  Buren,  243,  67. 
Varick,  330. 

Venice,  59. 

Vernon,  227. 

Verona,  227. 

Vestal,  56. 

Veteran,  67. 

Victor,  256. 

Victory,  59. 

Vienna,  262,  227. 
Villenova,  65. 

Virgil,  80. 

Volney,  276. 

Walden,  267. 

Wales,  88. 

Walkill,  262. 

Walton,  81. 
Walworth,  364. 
Warren,  112. 
Warren  Co.,  344. 
Warrensburg,  344. 
Warsaw,  366. 
Warwick,  262. 
Washington,  84. 
Washington  Co., 348. 
Waterford,  321. 
Waterloo,  330. 
Watertown,  117. 
Watervliet,  45. 
Watson,  134. 
Wawarsing,  341. 
Wayne,  332. 

Wayne  Co.,  354. 
Webster,  143. 
Weedsport,  63. 

Wells,  112. 

West  Almond,  53. 
West  Bloomfield,  256. 
Westfield,  67. 

West  Monroe,  276. 
West  Point,  267. 
Westchester,  356. 
Westchester  Co., 
356. 

Westerlo,  45. 
Western,  227. 
Westfield,  65. 
Westford,  281. 
Westmoreland,  227. 
Westport,  95. 

West  Troy,  52. 

West  Turin,  134. 
Westville,  100. 
Wethersfield,  366. 


COUNTIES,  TOWNSHIPS,  VILLAGES. 


Wheatfield,  215. 
Wheatland.  143. 
Wheeler,  532. 

White  Creek,  348. 
Whitehall,  348. 

W  hite  Plains,  356. 
Whitesborough,  232. 
Whitestown,  227. 
Willet,  80. 


Williamsburg,  133. 
Williamson,  354. 
Williamstown,  276. 
Willsborough,  95. 
Wilmington,  95. 
Wilmurt,  112. 
Wilna,  116. 

Wilson,  215. 

|  Wilton,  309. 


Windham,  109. 
Windsor,  56. 
Winfield,  112. 
Wirt,  53. 
Wolcott,  354. 
Woodhull,  332. 
Woodstock,  341 
Worcester,  281. 
Wyoming,  366. 


9 


Wyoming  Co.,  366. 

Yates,  275. 

Yates  Co.,  367. 
Yonkers,  365. 
York,  135. 
Yorkshire,  64. 
Yorktown,  356. 
Youngstown,  294. 


POPULATION  OF  COUNTIES,  ACCORDING-  TO  THE  CENSUS  OF  1850, 

AND  POPULATION  OF  THE  COUNTIES  IN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  IN  1845, 


Compiled  from  official  returns  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 


1845. 

1850. 

1845. 

1850. 

Albany  . 

....  77,268... 

.  93,297 

Onondaga . 

.  70,175.... 

.  85,900 

Allegany . 

....  40,084... 

.  37,880 

Ontario . 

.  43,977 

Broome . 

....  26^08... 

.  30,660 

Orange . 

.  52,227.... 

.  57,164 

Cattaraugus . 

....  30,169... 

.  38,912 

Orleans . 

.  25,845.... 

.  28,464 

Cayuga  . 

....  49,663... 

.  55,489 

Oswego . 

.  48,441.... 

Chautauque . 

....  46,548... 

.  50,624 

Otsego . 

.  60,509.... 

.  13,258.... 

.  48,746 

Chemung . 

....  23,689... 

.  28,964 

Putnam . 

.  14,134 

Chenango . 

....  39,900.... 

.  40,313 

Queens . 

.  31,849.... 

.  36,832 

Clinton . 

....  31,278... 

.  40,056 

Rensselaer . 

.  62,338.... 

.  73,435 

Columbia . 

....  41,976... 

.  43,004 

Richmond  . 

.  13,673.... 

.  15,066 

Cortland . 

....  25,081... 

.  25,058 

Rockland . 

.  13,741.... 

.  16,965 

Delaware . 

....  36,990.... 

Saratoga  . 

.  41,477.... 

....  45,620 

Dutchess  . 

....  55,124... 

.  58,994 

Schenectady  .... 

.  16,630.... 

.  20,057 

Erie  . 

....  78,635.... 

. 101,115 

Schoharie . 

.  32,488.... 

.  33,536 

Essex . 

....  25,102.... 

.  31,203 

Seneca  . 

.  24,972.... 

....  25,442 

Franklin . 

....  18,692.... 

.  25,114 

St.  Lawrence.... 

.  62,354.... 

.  63,634 

Fulton  . 

....  18,579.... 

.  20,158 

Steuben . 

.  51,679.... 

....  63,785 

Genesee  . 

....  28,845.... 

.  28,538 

Suffolk . 

.  84,579.... 

....  36,826 

Greene . 

....  31,967.... 

.  33,124 

Sullivan . 

.  18,727.... 

....  25,090 

Hamilton . 

....  1,882.... 

.  2,188 

Tioga . 

.  22,456.... 

.  25,384 

Herkimer . 

....  37,424.... 

.  38,257 

Tompkins . 

.  38,168.... 

....  38,749 

Jefferson  . 

....  64,999.... 

.  68,156 

Ulster  . 

....  59,406 

Kings . 

....  78,691.... 

.  138,899 

Warren . 

.  14,908.... 

....  17,159 

Lewis . 

.  24,570 

Washington . 

.  40,554.... 

....  44,751 

Livingston . 

....  33,193.... 

.  40,887 

Wayne . 

.  42,515.... 

Madison . 

....  40,987... 

.  43,081 

Westchester  .... 

.  47,578.... 

....  58,267 

Monroe  . 

....  70,899.... 

.  87,838 

Wyoming . 

.  27,205.... 

....  32,123 

Montgomery  .... 

....  29,643.... 
371  102 

.  31,913 

515  394 

Yates . 

.  20,777.... 

....  20,590 

Niagara . 

Oneida . 

....  3L550... 
....  84,776.... 

.  42^224 

.  99,818 

Total . 

....2,600,374.... 

2 


INDEX 


JPag-e 

Page 

Abercrombie,  Gen.,  defeat  of, 

•  • 

97 

Diploma  for  the  Indians,  . 

106 

Allen,  Indian,  . 

•  • 

145 

Dobb’s  Ferry, . 

302 

Amsterdam,  Nieuw,  in  1659, 

• 

156 

Dodd,  Rev.  Bethuel,  epitaph, 

237 

Andre,  taking  of, 

. 

358 

Dutch,  ancient,  church, 

47 

Andre,  execution  of,  . 

• 

302 

Dutch  church  at  Caughnawaga, 

146 

Anecdotes,  ludicrous, 

• 

284 

Ararat,  city  of,  . 

•  . 

94 

Edwards,  D.  D.,  Jonathan,  notice  of, 

58 

Arnold  the  traitor,  anecdote  of, 

•  • 

153 

Erie  Canal  celebration, 

204 

Astor  House, 

•  • 

203 

Fire,  great,  in  New  York,  1776, 

172 

Backus,  Azel,  D.  D.,  epitaph, 

•  • 

240 

Fire,  great,  in  New  York,  1835, 

190 

Ballad,  on  the  destruction  of  Schenec- 

Five  Nations,  invade  Canada,  . 

21 

tady,  .... 

•  # 

327 

Fort  Erie,  assault  on, 

.  90 

Battery  and  Castle  Garden, 

•  . 

200 

Fort  Erie,  sortie  of,  . 

.  91 

Black  Rock,  attack  on, 

#  • 

90 

Fort  Plain,  block -house,  . 

.  152 

Bowne  Mansion  House, 

•  • 

292 

Fox,  George,  notice  of, 

.  292 

Boyd,  Lieutenant,  horrible  death  of,  . 

136 

Frazer,  General,  death  of, 

.  320 

Brock,  Sir  James,  death  of, 

. 

218 

French  colony,  account  of, 

.  255 

Brant,  Joseph,  notice  of, 

•  • 

149 

Frederic,  Fort,  notice  of,  . 

.  95 

Bread,  scarcity  of, 

•  • 

339 

Fulton,  Robert,  notice  of,  . 

.  209 

Bridgewater,  battle  of, 

• 

222 

British  officers,  description  of, 

•  • 

177 

Gardner,  Lyon,  notice  of,  . 

.  336 

Brown,  Colonel,  notice  of,  . 

•  • 

153 

Genesee  Falls,  .... 

.  144 

Burgoyne,  surrender  of, 

•  • 

311 

Glenns  Falls,  .... 

.  347 

Butler,  Walter,  death  of,  . 

•  • 

106 

Gray,  Colonel,  death  of, 

.  125 

Granger,  Gideon,  epitaph, . 

.  259 

Cahoes  Falls, 

• 

52 

Greig,  Capt.,  remarkable  preservation  of,  231 

Canajoharie,  invasion  of,  . 

• 

149 

Gothic  or  Temperance  Hall, 

.  198 

Caroline,  burning  of,  . 

• 

224 

Carthage  Bridge, 

• 

144 

Harpers,  William  and  John,  adven- 

Catskill  Mountain  House,  . 

.  . 

110 

tures  of, 

.  82 

Cayuga  Bridge, 

. 

63 

Hale,  Captain  Nathan,  notice  of, 

.  177 

Census,  New  York  city,  . 

• 

154 

Halls  of  Justice, 

.  187 

Census  of  counties,  . 

• 

9 

Harlaem  Tunnel, 

.  207 

Chatauque  gas  springs, 

• 

66 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  notice  of, 

.  213 

Chemung,  battle  of,  . 

• 

68 

Hamilton  College, 

.  238 

Chimney  Point  Gulf, 

•  . 

135 

Han  Yerry,  anecdote  of,  . 

.  234 

Church,  ancient,  at  Caughnawaga,  . 

146 

Herkimer,  General,  notice  of,  . 

.  115 

Church,  ancient,  Albany,  . 

. 

47 

Herkimer,  burning  of, 

.  113 

Churches,  number  of  in  N.  York,  12, 

198 

Hendrick,  King,  notice  of, 

.  152 

Cholera  in  New  York, 

• 

183 

Hornby  Lodge,  .... 

.  55 

Chippewa,  battle  of,  . 

•  • 

221 

Holland  Land  Company’s  Office, 

.  108 

Cherry  Valley,  destruction  of, 

.  • 

285 

Howe,  Lord,  death  of, 

.  97 

City  Hall,  New  York, 

.  « 

185 

Hudson  River  discovered,  . 

•  15 

Clinton,  George,  notice  of, 

•  • 

273 

Clinton,  De  Witt,  notice  of, 

•  , 

265 

Indians,  natives, 

.  14 

Cobleskill,  attack  on, 

.  . 

330 

Indians,  Tuscarora,  . 

.  217 

Colden,  Governor,  effigy  of, 

•  • 

166 

Indians,  Onondaga,  . 

.  243 

Colden,  Cadwallader,  notice  of, 

•  . 

293 

Cornbury,  lord,  notice  of,  . 

#  . 

23 

Jay,  John,  LL.  D.,  notice  of, 

.  364 

Crown  Point, 

•  « 

95 

Johnson  Hall,  .... 

.  103 

Croton  Aqueduct, 

•  . 

205 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  notice  of, 

.  103 

Customhouse,  . 

• 

192 

Johnson,  Sir  Guy,  residence  of, 

.  147 

INDEX.  11 


Kalm,  Professor,  visit  to  Albany, 

Page 

48 

Kidd’s  Heights,  Albany,  . 

• 

46 

Kidd,  William,  the  pirate,  . 

336 

Kirtland,  Rev.  Mr.,  notice  of, 

• 

238 

Kingston,  destruction  of,  . 

• 

342 

Knickerbocker,  extract  from, 

• 

159 

Kosciusko,  notice  of,  . 

• 

271 

Lake  George,  battle  of, 

344 

Lee,  Ann,  notice  of,  . 

• 

52 

Letter,  anonymous,  Newburg,  . 

• 

264 

Livingston,  Philip,  notice  of, 

• 

208 

Livingston,  William,  notice  of,  . 

• 

209 

Livingston,  Brockhaldst,  . 

• 

211 

Lindesay,  Mr.,  notice  of,  . 

• 

283 

Long  Island,  battle  of, 

• 

128 

Long  Island,  account  of,  . 

# 

139 

Lundy’s  Lane,  battle  of,  . 

• 

222 

McCrea,  Miss  Jane,  murder  of,  . 

353 

Merchants’  Exchange,  New  York, 

• 

194 

Meigs,  Colonel,  expedition  of, 

• 

334 

Mohawk  Castles,  taking  of, 

• 

151 

Montgomery,  General,  notice  of, 

• 

212 

Montauk  Point,  view  of,  . 

• 

336 

Montour,  Catharine,  notice  of,  . 

• 

70 

Morris,  Gouverneur,  notice  of,  . 

* 

365 

Navy  Yard,  Brooklyn, 

126 

Negro  plot,  .... 

• 

164 

New  York,  evacuation  of, . 

• 

310 

New  York  in  1800,  . 

• 

184 

New  York  University, 

• 

195 

New  York  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum, 

196 

Newspapers,  ancient,  extracts  from, 

• 

165 

Niagara  Falls,  view  of, 

• 

220 

Niagara  Fort,  account  of,  . 

• 

225 

Norton,  Seth  M.,  epitaph,  .  ,  . 

• 

240 

Officers,  Dutch  names  of,  . 

156 

Ogdensburg,  attack  on, 

• 

305 

Oneida  Institute,  view  of,  . 

• 

232 

Onondagas,  account  of, 

Onondaga,  French  colony  at,  in 

• 

243 

the 

year  1656,  .... 

• 

248 

Oriskany,  battle  of,  . 

• 

235 

Oswego,  attack  on,  . 

. 

279 

Oswego  Fort,  surrender  of, 

• 

277 

Painted  Post,  the  history  of, 

# 

332 

Palatinates,  settlement  of,  . 

• 

24 

Patroons,  notice  of,  . 

• 

18 

Paulding,  John,  notice  of,  . 

• 

358 

Peekskill,  incursion  into,  . 

• 

357 

Penitentiary,  Blackwell’s  Island, 

. 

189 

Phelps  and  Gorham’s  surveys,  . 

. 

258 

Phelps,  Hon.  Oliver,  epitaph, 

. 

260 

Pike,  Gen.  Z.  M.,  death  of, 

. 

120 

Plattsburg,  battle  of,  . 

• 

73 

Pompey,  ancient  remains  at, 

• 

254 

Portage  Falls,  view  of, 

. 

54 

Prison  at  Auburn, 

• 

61 

Prison  ships,  revolutionary, 

• 

127 

0.  Png-e 

Prescott,  battle  of,  .  .  .  306 

Publications,  periodical,  in  New  York,  202 


Putnam’s  battle  with  Indians,  .  .  350 

Queenstown  Heights,  battle  of,  .  .  218 

Red  Jacket,  notice  of,  92 

Red  Jacket,  conference  with,  .  .  258 

Rensselaer,  manor  of,  .  .  ‘  •  .  297 

Rensselaer,  Hon.  Stephen,  notice  of,  .  51 

Revolutionary  incidents  in  New  York,  173 
Rivington  press  destroyed,  .  .  .169 

Robinson  House,  the,  .  .  .  288 

Royalists  executed  at  Kingston,  .  343 

Sachems  visit  England,  ...  24 

Sacketts  Harbor,  attack  on,  .  .  122 

Salina  salt  works,  .  .  .  .  240 

Sailor’s  Snug  Harbor,  .  .  .  299 

Schlosser  Landing,  view  of, .  .  .  223 

Schuyler,  Honyost,  stratagem  of,  .  231 
Schuyler,  General  Philip,  notice  of,  .  315 
Schuyler  Mansion  House,  .  .  .311 

Schenectady,  destruction  of,  .  .  325 

Schoharie,  Fort,  attack  on,  .  .  329 

Seneca  Mission  House,  ...  92 

Shakers,  notice  of,  .  .  .52 

Shakers  at  New  Lebanon,  ...  78 

Sing  Sing  Prison,  .  .  .  .360 

Skeene,  Major,  royalist,  .  .  .  349 

Skenandoah,  epitaph,  .  .  .  240 

Skenandoa,  notice  of,  ...  239 
Sleepy  Hollow,  .....  360 
Standard,  first,  taken  in  last  war,  .  101 

Stadt  Huys  in  1642,  .  .  .  .  155 

Stuyvesant,  Governor,  notice  of,  .  208 
Sterling,  Lord,  notice  of,  .  .  .  212 

Stanwix,  Fort,  siege  of,  .  .  230 

Steuben,  Baron,  notice  of,  .  .  .  241 

Stillwater,  battle  at,  .  .  .  .316 

Steamboat,  Fulton,  first  American,  .  211 
Stony  Point,  storming  of,  .  .  .  300 

Tammany  Hall,  New  York,  .  .  199 

Ticonderoga,  Fort,  .  .  .  .96 

Ticonderoga,  capture  of,  by  Allen,  .  98 

Ticonderoga,  St.  Clair’s  evacuation  of,  99 
Trenton  Falls,  .....  242 
Troy  Female  Seminary,  .  .  .296 

Tunnel  at  Portage,  ....  55 

Tuscarora  Indians,  .  .  .  .217 

Union  College,  .....  323 

Van  Kleek  House,  ....  85 

Van  Rensselaer,  S.,  notice  of,  .  .  51 

Van  Wart,  Isaac,  epitaph,  .  .  360 


Wadsworth,  James  and  William,  notice 

of, . 136 

Washington,  Fort,  capture  of,  .  .  363 

Washington  inaugurated,  .  .  .193 

Washington’s  head-quarters,  Newburg,  263 


12 

INDEX. 

West  Point  Academy, 

Page 

.  267 

Wilkinson,  Jemima,  “  the  Universal 

Pag# 

West  Point,  ancient  view  of, 

.  272 

Friend,”  . 

William  Henry,  Fort,  capture  of, 

368 

White,  Hugh,  notice  of, 

.  233 

346 

White,  Hugh,  epitaph, 

White  Plains,  battle  of, 

.  237 
.  361 

Yellow  Fever  in  New  York, 

180 

Williams,  Rev.  Mr.,  capture  of,  . 

.  101 

York  Island,  military  movements  on, 

170 

Williamson,  Captain,  first  settler 

at 

York,  U.  C.,  attack  on, 

118 

Bath, . 

.  332 

Young,  Major  G.  D.,  notice  of, . 

101 

INDEX 

To  the  additional  matter  in  the  Appendix. 


Pajre 

French  expedition  against  the  Senecas,  369 
Long  Island  Indians,  ,  .  .  371 

Conference  at  Unadilla,  between  Gen. 

Herkimer  and  Brandt,  .  .  373 

Indian  sacrifice  at  Rochester,  .  .  374 

Indian  chiefs  Cornplanter  and  Big  Kettle, 375 
First  settlers  of  Greene,  .  .376 

German  Flats  destroyed  by  Tories,  &c.,  377 
Remarkable  fulfilment  of  a  dream,  .  378 
Death  of  the  Oneida  guide,  .  .  379 

Battle  of  Bennington,  .  .  .  379 

Ancient  Dutch  Church,  Sleepy  Hollow,  381 
Deception  on  Sir  James  Yeo,  .  .  382 


Page 

David  Williams  captor  of  Andre,  .  383 
Execution  of  a  deserter,  .  .  .  383 

Blowing  up  of  the  Steam  Frigate  Fulton,  385 
Murder  of  Robert  Barber,  .  .  387 

Capture  of  the  Amistad,  .  .  389 

Rachel  Baker,  ....  390 
Abduction  of  Morgan,  .  .  .  392 

Conflagration  of  the  Phcenix,  .  .  394 

Wreck  of  the  Mexico,  .  .  .  395 

Account  of  Jos.  Smith  and  Mormonism,  396 
List  of  Post  Offices,  .  .  .  399 

Towns  recently  organized,  .  .  12 


TOWNSHIPS  RECENTLY  ORGANIZED. 


Townships. 

Counties. 

Townships. 

Counties. 

Ashland, 

Greene. 

New  Bremen, 

Lewis. 

Callicoon, 

Sullivan. 

North  Dansville,  Livingston. 

Cape  Vincent, 

Jefferson. 

North  Hudson, 

Essex. 

Carrolton, 

Cattaraugus. 

North  Norwich, 

Chenango. 

Chester, 

Orange. 

Poeston  Kill, 

Rennselaer. 

East  Fishkill, 

Dutchess. 

Rice, 

Cattaraugus. 

Genessee  Falls, 

Allegany. 

Rosendale, 

Ulster. 

Hartford, 

Cortlandt. 

Schuyler  Falls, 

Clinton. 

Jewett, 

Greene. 

South  Valley, 

Cattaraugus. 

La  Pier, 

Cortlandt. 

West  Farms, 

West  Chester. 

Lloyd, 

Ulster. 

West  Sparta, 

Livingston. 

Macomb, 

Maine, 

St.  Lawrence. 
Broome. 

j 

Worth, 

Jefferson. 

NEW  YORK. 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  first  Europeans  who  landed  on 
the  soil  of  New  York,  were  the  crew  of  a  French  vessel  under  the 
command  of  John  de  Verrazzano,  a  Florentine,  in  the  service  of 
Francis  I.,  of  France.  “  Verrazzano  had  been  for  some  time  intrusted 
with  the  command  of  four  ships,  in  cruising  against  the  Spaniards. 
These  vessels  being  separated  in  a  storm,  the  commander  resolved 
with  one  of  them,  the  Dauphin,  to  undertake  a  voyage  for  the  purpose 
of  discovering  new  countries.”  About  the  middle  of  March,  1524, 
he  arrived  on  the  American  coast  near  Wilmington,  N.  C.  From 
this  point  he  proceeded  as  far  south  as  Georgia.  He  then  turned 
and  proceeded  northward,  until  he  came  to  about  the  latitude  of  41° 
north,  where  he  entered  a  harbor,  which,  from  his  description,  is 
believed  to  be  that  of  New  York.* 

It  appears  from  Verrazzano’s  account,  that  he  stayed  in  the  harbor 
about  fifteen  days.  It  seems  he  had  much  intercourse  with  the  natives 
of  the  country.  “  They  came  on  board  his  ship  frequently,  and  without 
reserve ;  traded  with  him  freely  for  such  articles  as  he  needed,  and 
generally  attended  his  men,  in  greater  or  smaller  numbers,  whenever 
they  went  on  shore.”  He  sailed  from  the  harbor  on  the  5th  of  May, 
and  proceeded  as  far  north  as  the  coast  of  Labrador ;  from  thence 
he  sailed  for  France,  where  he  arrived  in  July.  In  a  letter  to  the 
king,  he  gave  an  account  of  his  voyage,  giving  the  name  of  New 
France  to  the  country  he  visited.  As  his  voyage  neither  produced 
nor  promised  any  addition  to  the  revenues  of  France,  his  discoveries 
were  not  pursued,  and  even  the  memory  of  it  was  almost  forgotten. 
It  is  supposed  that  Verrazzano,  in  a  subsequent  voyage,  was  cut  to 
pieces  and  devoured  by  the  savages. 

In  1607,  a  London  company  fitted  out  a  ship  under  the  command 
of  Henry  Hudson,  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  a  northwestern 
T  -  to  the  East  Indies.  This  voyage,  and  another  the  next  year 


*  An  account  of  this  voyage,  given  in  a  letter  to  the  French  king,  is  found  in  Richard 
Hakluyt’s  Voyages,  Navigations,  &c.,  published  in  1600,  in  London,  in  three  vols.  folio. 
It  is  republished  in  vol.  i.  of  the  Coll,  of  the  New  York  Hist.  Soc. 


14 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


for  the  same  purpose,  both  proving  unsuccessful,  the  company  sus¬ 
pended  their  patronage.  Hudson  then  went  to  Holland,  and  entered 
into  the  service  of  the  celebrated  Dutch  East  India  Company.  This 
company  fitted  out  a  small  ship,  named  Half  Moon,  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Hudson,  with  a  crew  it  is  said  of  twenty  men,  Dutch  and 
English.  Hudson  left  Amsterdam  on  the  4th,  the  Texel  on  the  6th 
of  April,  and  arrived  on  the  American  coast  on  the  18th  of  July, 
1609,  near  Portland,  in  the  state  of  Maine. 

Pursuing  his  course  southward,  Hudson  came  to  Cape  Cod.  where 
he  landed,  about  the  3d  of  August.  After  this,  he  sailed  southward 
and  westward  for  one-and-twenty  days,  “  making  remarks  on  the 
soundings  and  currents,”  until  he  came  to  the  entrance  of  Chesapeak 
Bay,  about  the  24th  of  August.  From  this  point,  he  returned  north¬ 
ward  along  the  coast,  and  on  the  28th  discovered  Delaware  Bay 
During  the  six  following  days,  Hudson  pursued  his  northerly  course, 
until,  on  the  3d  of  September,  1609,  he  anchored  within  Sandy  Hook. 

“  The  next  day,  the  4th  of  September,  he  sent  a  boat  on  shore  for 
the  purpose  of  fishing.  The  tradition  is  that  his  men  first  landed  on 
Coney  Island,  which  lies  near  to  Long  Island,  and  now  makes  a  part 
of  Kings  county.  On  the  same  day  the  natives  came  on  board  his 
ship,  as  she  lay  at  anchor,  conducting  themselves  with  great  apparent 
friendliness,  and  discovering  a  strong  disposition  to  barter  the  produce 
of  their  country  for  knives,  beads,  clothes,  and  other  articles  of  a 
similar  kind.  The  next  day,  the  5th  of  September,  Hudson  again 
sent  his  boat  on  shore,  for  the  purpose,  as  appears  from  the  journal, 
of  exploring  and  sounding  the  waters  lying  to  the  south,  within  Sandy 
Hook,  and  forming  what  is  now  called  the  Plorse  Shoe.  Here  the 
boat’s  crew  landed  and  penetrated  some  distance  into  the  woods,  in 
what  is  now  Monmouth  county,  in  New  Jersey.  They  were  very 
well  received  by  the  natives,  who  presented  them  very  kindly  with 
what  the  journal  calls  ‘  green  tobacco,’  and  also  with  ‘  dried  cur¬ 
rants  [these  were  probably  whortleberries,]  which  are  represented 
as  having  been  found  in  great  plenty,  and  of  a  very  excellent  quality. 

“  On  the  6th  of  September,  Hudson  sent  a  boat  manned  with  five 
hands  to  explore  what  appeared  to  be  the  mouth  of  a  river,  at  the 
distance  of  about  four  leagues  from  the  ship.  This  was  no  doubt 
the  strait  between  Long  and  Staten  islands,  generally  called  the 
Narrows.  Here,  the  writer  of  the  journal  observes,  ‘  a  good  depth 
of  water  was  found and  within,  a  large  opening,  and  a  narrow 
river  to  the  west ;  in  which  it  is  evident  he  refers  to  what  is  now 
called  the  Kills,  or  the  channel  between  Bergen  Neck  and  Staten 
Island.  In  exploring  the  bay  and  the  adjacent  waters,  the  boat’s 
crew  spent  the  whole  day.  On  their  way  in  returning  to  the  ship 
towards  night,  they  were  attacked  by  the  natives,  in  two  canoes  ;  the 
one  carrying  fourteen  men,  and  the  other  twelve.  A  skirmish  ensued, 
in  which  one  of  Hudson’s  men,  named  John  Colman,  was  killed  by 
an  arrow,  which  struck  him  in  the  throat,  and  two  more  were 
wounded.  The  next  day  the  remains  of  Colman  were  interred  on  a 
point  of  land  not  far  from  the  shin,  which  from  that  circumstance 


OUTLINE  HISTORY.  15  , 

received  the  name  of  Colman’s  Point ;  and  which,  probably,  was  the 
same  that  is  now  called  Sandy  Hook. 

“On  the  8th,  9th  and  10th  days  of  September,  Hudson  still  rode 
cautiously  at  anchor,  without  the  Narrows,  and  seems  to  have  been 
chiefly  employed  in  trading  with  the  natives,  and  in  guarding  against 
any  insidious  attacks  which  might  have  been  meditated  by  them,  and 
which  he  evidently  feared.  On  the  11th,  he  sailed  through  the 
Narrows,  and  found,  as  the  writer  of  the  journal  expresses  it,  ‘  a  very 
good  harbor  for  all  winds.’  On  the  12th,  he  first  entered  the  river 
which  bears  his  name,  and  sailed  up  about  two  leagues.  On  these 
two  days  the  ship  was  visited  by  great  numbers  of  the  natives,  who 
brought  Indian  corn,  beans,  tobacco,  and  oysters,  in  abundance,  and 
exchanged  them  for  such  trifles  as  the  ship’s  company  were  disposed 
to  barter.  They  had  pipes  of  ‘  yellow  copper,’  in  which  they 
smoked.  They  had  also  various  ornaments  of  copper ;  and  earthen 
pots,  in  which  they  dressed  their  meat.  But,  although  they  were 
‘  civil,’  as  the  writer  of  the  journal  tells  us,  and  ‘  made  show  of  love,’ 
Hudson  did  not  think  proper  to  trust  them ;  and  by  no  means  would 
suffer  any  of  them  to  remain  on  board  during  the  night. 

“From  the  12th  to  the  22d  of  September,  Hudson  was  employed 
in  ascending  the  river.  The  journal  represents  it  in  general  about  a 
mile  wide,  and  of  a  good  depth,  abounding  with  fish,  among  which 
were  *  great  store  of  salmons.’  As  he  advanced,  he  found  the  land 
on  both  sides  growing  higher,  until  it  became  ‘  very  mountainous.’ 
This  high  land,  it  is  observed,  4  had  many  points ;  the  channel  was 
narrow,  and  there  were  many  eddy  winds.’  In  his  passage  up  the 
river,  the  natives  frequently  came  on  board  of  his  ship,  and  sometimes 
in  considerable  numbers,  but  always  in  an  amicable  manner. 

“  Hudson  appears  to  have  sailed  up  the  river  a  little  above  where 
the  city  of  Hudson  now  stands ;  and  beyond  that  point,  he  himself 
never  ascended.  Not  considering  it  as  safe  to  proceed  farther  with 
his  ship,  he  sent  a  boat  with  five  hands,  (the  mate,  who  had  the 
command  of  the  expedition,  being  one,)  to  explore  and  sound  the  river 
higher  up.  The  boat  proceeded  eight  or  nine  leagues  beyond  where 
the  ship  lay  at  anchor ;  but  finding  the  soundings  extremely  irregular, 
and  the  depth,  in  some  places,  not  more  than  seven  feet,  it  was  judged 
unadvisable  to  attempt  any  farther  progress.  It  is  evident,  from  the 
whole  account,  that  the  boat  went  as  far  as  where  the  city  of  Albany 
now  stands. 

“  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  farther  they  went  up  the  river, 
the  more  friendly  and  hospitable  the  natives  appeared.  After  they 
had  passed  the  highlands,  the  writer  of  the  journal  observes  :  ‘  There 
we  found  a  very  loving  people,  and  very  old  men ;  and  were  well 
used.’  On  the  18th  of  September,  when  the  ship  was  lying  about 
twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  below  the  present  situation  of  Albany, 

‘  the  mate,’  it  is  farther  observed,  ‘  went  on  shore  with  an  old  savage, 
a  governor  of  the  country,  who  took  him  to  his  house  and  made  him 
good  cheer.’  At  this  place  the  savages  flocked  on  board  the  ship  in 
considerable  numbers,  bringing  with  them  corn,  tobacco,  pumpkins, 


16 


* 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 

# 

and  grapes,  and  some  of  them  beaver  and  otter  skins,  which  they 
exchanged  for  hatchets,  knives,  beads,  and  other  trifles.  On  the  20th 
of  September,  Hudson  and  his  crew,  for  the  purpose  of  making  an 
experiment  on  the  temper  of  the  Indians,  attempted  to  make  a  number 
of  their  principal  men  drunk.  But  though  they  ‘were  all  merry,’ 
as  the  journalist  expresses  it,  only  one  of  them  appears  to  have  been 
completely  intoxicated.  This  phenomenon  excited  great  surprise 
and  alarm  among  his  companions.  They  knew  not  what  to  make 
of  it,  and  it  was  not  until  the  next  day,  when  he  had  completely  re¬ 
covered,  that  they  became  composed.  This,  so  far  as  we  know, 
is  the  first  instance  of  intoxication  by  ardent  spirits,  among  the  Indi¬ 
ans  on  this  part  of  the  American  continent.  It  is  very  remarkable  that 
among  the  Six  Nations  there  is  a  tradition,  still  very  distinctly  pre¬ 
served,  of  a  scene  of  intoxication  which  occurred  with  a  company  of 

the  natives  when  the  ship  first  arrived . On  the  22d  of  the 

month,  confidence  on  the  part  of  the  natives  being  restored,  a  number 
of  their  chiefs  came  on  board  the  ship  as  she  lay  at  anchor.  This 
interview  the  writer  of  the  journal  describes  in  the  following  man¬ 
ner  :  ‘  At  three  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  they  came  on  board,  and 
brought  tobacco  and  beans,  and  gave  them  to  our  master,  and  made 
an  oration,  and  showed  him  all  the  country  round  about.  Then  they 
sent  one  of  their  company  on  land,  who  presently  returned  and  brought 
a  great  platter  of  venison,  dressed  by  themselves  ;  and  they  caused 
him  to  eat  with  them.  Then  they  made  him  reverence  and  departed.’ 

“  On  the  23d  of  September,  Hudson  began  to  descend  the  river. 
On  his  way  down,  his  men  went  frequently  on  shore,  and  had  several 
very  friendly  interviews  with  the  natives,  who  expressed  a  desire 
that  they  might  reside  among  them  ;  and  made  them  an  offer  of  lands 
for  that  purpose.  But  when  the  ship  came  below  the  highlands,  the 
savages  appeared  to  be  of  a  different  character,  and  were  extremely 
troublesome ;  especially  those  who  inhabited  the  western  side  of  the 
river.  They  attempted  to  rob  the  ship,  and  repeatedly  shot  at  the 
crew  with  bows  and  arrows  from  several  points  of  land.  Hudson’s 
men  discharged  several  muskets  at  them,  and  killed  ten  or  twelve  of 
them.  In  these  conflicts,  which  were  frequently  renewed  during  the 
first  and  second  days  of  October,  none  of  the  ship’s  crew  appears  to 
have  been  injured.  The  land  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  near 
its  mouth,  was  called  by  the  natives  ‘  Manna-hatta.’ 

“  On  the  4th  day  of  October,  (just  one  month  from  the  day  on 
which  he  landed  within  Sandy  Hook,)  Hudson  came  out  of  the  river 
which  bears  his  name ;  and  without  anchoring  in  the  bay,  immedi¬ 
ately  stood  out  to  sea.  By  twelve  o’clock  at  noon  that  day  he  was 
entirely  clear  of  land.  He  steered  directly  for  Europe ;  and  on  the 
9th  of  November  following  he  ‘  arrived,’  as  the  writer  of  the  journal 
expresses  it,  ‘in  the  range  of  Dartmouth,  Devonshire.’  Here  the 
journal  ends. 

“  Whether  Hudson  immediately  landed  in  England,  cannot  now  be 
clearly  ascertained ;  but  it  appears  that  he  left  that  country  in  April, 
1610,  and  reached  the  American  coast  early  in  the  summer.  He 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


17 


soon  discovered  the  great  northern  bay  which  bears  his  name.  There, 
after  an  unwise  delay,  he  was  compelled  to  pass  a  distressing  and 
dangerous  winter.  In  the  spring,  in  addition  to  all  his  other  misfor¬ 
tunes,  he  found  a  spirit  of  dissatisfaction  and  mutiny  growing  among 
his  crew,  and  at  length  manifesting  itself  in  open  violence.  This 
proceeded  so  far,  that  on  the  22d  of  June,  1611,  a  majority  of  the 
crew  arose,  took  command  of  the  ship,  put  Hudson,  his  son,  and  seven 
others,  most  of  whom  were  sick  or  lame,  into  a  boat,  turned  them 
adrift  in  the  ocean,  and  abandoned  them  to  their  fate.  They  never 
were  heard  of  more. 

“  Hudson  did  not  give  his  own  name  to  the  river  which  he  discov¬ 
ered.  The  Iroquois  Indians  called  it  Cahohatatea.  The  Mahicans, 
Mahakaneghtuc,  and  sometimes  Shatemuck.  Hudson  styled  it  em¬ 
phatically  the  ‘  Great  River/  or  the  *  Great  River  of  the  Mountains 
no  doubt  from  the  extraordinary  circumstance  of  such  a  body  of 
water  flowing  through  the  mountains  without  a  cataract.  The  name 
of  its  discoverer,  however,  was  early  attached  to  it.  I  find  it  familiarly 
called  Hudson’s  river,  in  some  of  the  public  documents  of  the  Dutch 
colonial  government ;  but  more  frequently  the  North  river,  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  it  from  the  Delaware,  which  was  discovered  by  the  same 
navigator,  and  which  being  within  the  territory  claimed  by  the  Dutch, 
was  called  by  them  the  South  river. 

“  The  Dutch  immediately  began  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advan¬ 
tage  which  the  discovery  of  Hudson  presented  to  their  view.  In 
1610,  it  appears  that  at  least  one  ship  was  sent  hither  by  the  East  In¬ 
dia  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  trading  in  furs,  which  it  is  well  known 
continued  for  a  number  of  years  to  be  the  principal  object  of  com¬ 
mercial  attraction  to  this  part  of  the  new  world.  In  1614,  a  fort  and 
trading-house  were  erected  on  the  spot  where  Albany  now  stands, 
and  called  Fort  Orange  ;  and  about  the  same  time  another  fort  and 
trading-house  were  established  on  the  southwest  point  of  Manhattan 
Island,  and  called  New  Amsterdam.  The  whole  colony  received 
the  name  of  New  Netherlands.” — Hist.  Discourse  by  Samuel  Miller , 
D.  D.,  vol.  i.  Coll.  New  York  Hist.  Soc. 

In  1621,  “  the  Privileged  West  India  Company”  was  formed  in 
Holland  ;  this  company  in  1623  began  its  operations  along  the  Hud¬ 
son,  with  a  direct  view  to  colonization.  A  number  of  settlers  during 
this  year  were  sent  out,  under  the  command  of  Cornelis  Jacobse  Mey, 
who  were  most  heartily  welcomed  by  the  few  previous  inhabitants. 
Before  these  arrived  they  had  been  two  years  without  supplies,  and 
had  been  obliged  to  cut  up  the  sails  of  some  of  their  boats  for  neces¬ 
sary  clothing.  In  compliment  to  Capt.  Mey,  they  named  the  bay  of 
New  York  Port  Mey.  During  the  same  year  the  forts  New  Amster¬ 
dam  and  Orange  were  erected,  upon  the  sites  of  the  present  cities  of 
New  York  and  Albany. 

In  1625,  the  West  India  Company  freighted  two  ships,  in  one  of 
which  Peter  Minuit  arrived  in  New  Netherland,  with  a  company  of 
Waloons,  who  settled  on  Long  Island  opposite  New  Amsterdam. 
Minuit  is  considered  by  some  as  the  first  Governor  or  Director  of 
2  3 


18 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


New  Netherland.  Subordinate  to  him,  the  gradation  of  authority 
and  rank  seems  to  have  been:  1.  Opper-Koopman ;  2.  Onder-Koop- 
man ;  3.  Koopman ;  4.  Assistant.  The  office  of  Opper-Koopman, 
chief-merchant  or  commissary,  was  vested  in  Isaac  de  Raiser.  In 
four  or  five  years  the  trade  with  the  natives  was  greatly  extended, 
attracting  dealers  even  from  the  lakes,  and  from  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  near  Quebec. 

In  1629,  the  company  adopted  a  charter  of  “  Liberties  and  exemp¬ 
tions  for  patroons,  masters,  and  private  individuals,  who  should  plant 
colonies  in  New  Netherland,  or  import  thither  any  neat  cattle.”  The 
terms  of  encouragement  to  those  who  should  send  out  settlers,  were 
great.  Such  as  should  undertake  to  plant  a  colony  of  fifty  souls,  up¬ 
wards  of  fifteen  years  old,  were  to  be  acknowledged  Patroons,  a  name 
denoting  something  baronial  and  lordly  in  rank  and  means.  They 
were  allowed  to  select  lands  for  miles  in  extent,  which  should  descend 
to  their  posterity  for  ever.  Under  this  charter,  several  directors  ot 
the  company  determined  to  avail  themselves  of  these  privileges, 
among  whom  were  Samuel  Goodyn,  Samuel  Bloemart,  Killian  Van 
Rensselaer,  the  Heer  Pauw,  and  Jan  de  Laet.  These  persons  sent 
out  Wouter  Van  T wilier,  as  agent,  to  inspect  the  condition  of  the 
country,  and  to  purchase  the  lands  of  the  natives  for  the  purpose  of 
settlement. 

Owing  to  some  disturbances  in  the  colony,  Minuit  was  recalled  in 
1633,  and  Wouter  Van  T wilier  was  appointed  in  his  place.  The 
arrival  of  Van  T wilier,  as  governor,  gave  a  fresh  impulse  to  the  set¬ 
tlements.  During  his  administration,  the  controversy  occasioned  by 
the  encroachments  of  the  English  was  begun.  In  1638,  William 
Kieft  succeeded  Van  Twiller  as  governor  of  New  Netherland.  In 
1642,  he  broke  up  the  English  settlement  on  Long  Island,  and  fitted 
up  two  sloops  to  drive  them  out  of  the  Schuylkill,  of  which  they  had 
possessed  themselves.  In  1643,  the  New  England  colonies  entered 
into  a  league  both  against  the  Dutch  and  Indians.  In  1646,  a  severe 
battle  was  fought  on  part  of  Strickland’s  Plain,  called  Horse  Neck, 
between  the  Dutch  and  Indians.  There  appears  not  to  have  been 
any  particulars  of  the  action  preserved  ;  but  it  is  said  the  battle  was 
contested  with  mutual  obstinacy,  and  great  numbers  were  killed  on 
both  sides.  The  Dutch  ultimately  remained  masters  of  the  field. 

In  1647,  Peter  Stuyvesant  arrived  at  Fort  Amsterdam,  as  govern¬ 
or.  He  was  a  brave  old  officer,  and  had  been  commissioned  gov¬ 
ernor-general  of  Curacoaand  the  Dutch  West  Indies.  He  laid  claim 
to  all  the  lands  and  streams  from  Cape  Henlopen  to  Cape  Cod  ;  he 
went  to  Hartford,  and  demanded  a  surrender  to  the  Dutch  of  all  the 
lands  on  Connecticut  river.  These  claims  were  opposed,  and  left  to 
the  decision  of  arbitrators.  Long  Island  was  divided  :  the  eastern 
part  was  to  be  held  by  the  English,  the  western  by  the  Dutch  ;  to 
the  main,  the  boundaries  were  amicably  adjusted. 

In  1664,  Charles  II.  of  England,  disregarding  the  Dutch  claim  on 
New  Netherland,  made  a  grant  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York  and 
Albany,  which  included  all  the  mainland  of  New  England,  begin- 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


19 


ning  at  St.  Croix,  extending  to  the  rivers  Connecticut  and  Hudson, 
“  together  with  the  said  river  called  Hudson’s  river,  and  all  the  lands 
from  the  west  side  of  Connecticut  river,  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware 
Bay.”  In  order  to  enforce  this  claim  of  England  for  the  New  Nether- 
land,  an  expedition,  consisting  of  three  ships,  130  guns,  and  six  hun¬ 
dred  men,  was  sent  against  it,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Richard 
Nichols.  On  his  arrival  at  Manhattan,  Nichols  demanded  the  sur¬ 
render  of  the  fort.  Gov.  Stuyvesant  was  exceeding  loth  to  surrender 
without  an  attempt  at  defence^  but  the  favorable  terms  offered  to  the 
inhabitants  disposed  them  to  an  immediate  capitulation.  After  some 
fruitless  negotiation,  during  which  Gov.  Stuyvesant  pleaded  the  justice 
of  the  title  of  the  States-General,  and  the  existing  peace  between  them 
and  the  English  nation,  the  province  was  surrendered,  August  27th, 
1664,  upon  the  most  liberal  terms  to  the  vanquished. 

Having  taken  possession  of  the  country,  Nichols  assumed  the  gov¬ 
ernment,  with  the  title  of  “  Deputy-governor  under  his  royal  high¬ 
ness  the  Duke  of  York,  of  all  his  territories  in  America.”  New 
Amsterdam  was  now  called,  in  honor  of  the  Duke,  New  York,  and 
Fort  Orange,  Albany.  Gov.  Nichols  proceeded  to  erect  a  Court  of 
Assizes,  consisting  of  the  governor,  council,  and  justices  of  the  peace 
This  court  compiled  a  body  of  laws,  collected  from  the  ancient  cus¬ 
toms  and  usages,  with  additional  improvements,  such  as  the  times 
required,  regarding  English  law  as  the  supreme  rule.  These  ordi¬ 
nances  were  sent  to  England,  and  confirmed  by  the  Duke  of  York  the 
following  year.  ' 

It  is  supposed  that,  at  the  time  Nichols  took  possession  of  the 
province,  the  Dutch  inhabitants  were  about  6000  in  number.  New 
Amsterdam,  the  metropolis,  it  is  said,  contained  about  3000  persons, 
about  half  of  whom  returned  to  Holland.  Their  habitations,  however, 
were  soon  occupied  by  emigrants,  partly  from  Great  Britain,  but 
mostly  from  New  England.  Upon  Hudson  river  there  were  many 
Dutch  settlers ;  and  upon  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  there  were 
numerous  plantations  of  Dutch  and  Swedes. 

Col.  Nichols,  after  having  governed  the  province  about  three  years, 
resigned  his  office,  and  Col.  Francis  Lovelace  was  appointed  by  the 
duke  to  succeed  him.  Lovelace  assumed  the  government  in  1667, 
and  continued  his  administration  till  the  colony  was  re-surrendered 
to  the  Dutch.  War  having  been  declared  against  Holland,  a  small 
squadron  was  sent  over  by  the  Dutch,  which  arrived  at  Staten  Island 
July  30th,  1673.  Lovelace  being  absent  from  New  York,  Captain 
Manning,  who  had  the  charge  of  the  town,  rejected  the  aid  of  the 
English  inhabitants,  who  offered  to  defend  the  place,  sent  a  messenger 
to  the  enemy,  and  struck  his  flag  before  their  vessels  appeared  in 
sight.  As  the  fleet  advanced,  the  garrison  showed  their  willingness 
to  fight ;  but  Manning  forbade  a  gun  to  be  fired,  under  pain  of  death, 
and  surrendered  the  place  unconditionally  to  the  invaders.  He  was 
afterwards  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  pleaded  guilty  to  all  the 
charges  preferred.  His  sentence  was  as  extraordinary  as  his  con¬ 
duct  ;  it  was,  that,  “  though  he  deserved  death,  yet,  because  he  had 


20 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


since  the  surrender  been  in  England,  and  seen  the  king  and  duke,  it 
was  adjudged  that  his  sword  should  be  broke  over  his  head,  in  pub¬ 
lic,  before  the  City  Hall ;  and  himself  rendered  incapable  of  wearing 
a  sword,  and  of  serving  his  majesty  for  the  future,  in  any  public  trust 
in  the  government.” 

Anthony  Clove  was  constituted  the  Dutch  governor,  but  he  remained 
in  the  office  but  a  short  period.  A  treaty  of  peace,  in  1674,  was 
concluded  between  the  Dutch  and  English,  by  which  New  Nether- 
land  was  restored  to  the  English.  The  Duke  of  York,  to  remove  all 
controversy  respecting  his  property  in  America,  took  out  a  new  patent 
from  the  king,  and  commissioned  Major  Edmund  Andros  “  Governor 
of  New  York,  and  all  his  territories  in  these  parts.”  Andros,  as  the 
agent  of  a  despotic  master,  was  unpopular  to  the  people  under  his 
government,  and  involved  himself  in  disputes  with  the  neighboring 
government  of  Connecticut. 

The  province  of  New  York,  about  the  year  1678,  contained  twenty- 
four  towns,  villages,  and  parishes.  Fifteen  vessels,  on  an  average, 
traded  yearly  with  England,  importing  English  manufactures  to  the 
value  of  £50,000  sterling.  Its  annual  exports,  besides  pease,  beef, 
pork,  tobacco,  and  peltry,  consisted  of  about  sixty  thousand  bushels 
of  wheat.  The  city  of  New  York  contained  3,430  inhabitants,  and 
owned  only  three  ships,  eight  sloops,  and  seven  boats.  “  A  trader 
worth  £500  was  considered  a  substantial  merchant ;  and  the  planter, 
worth  half  that  sum  in  movables,  was  accounted  rich.  All  the  es¬ 
tates  in  the  colony  were  valued  at  £150,000.  Ministers  were  scarce, 
and  religions  many.  The  duke  maintained  a  chaplain  at  New  York, 
which  was  the  only  certain  endowment  of.  the  church  of  England. 
There  were  about  twenty  houses  for  public  worship,  of  which  about 
half  were  vacant.  The  law  made  it  obligatory  upon  every  district 
to  build  churches,  and  provide  for  their  ministers,  whose  compensa¬ 
tion  varied  from  £40  to  £70  a-year,  besides  a  house  and  garden. 
But  the  Presbyterians  and  Independents,  the  greater  and  more  sub¬ 
stantial  portion  of  the  inhabitants,  only,  showed  much  willingness  to 
comply  with  the  requisition.  There  were  no  beggars  in  the  province, 
and  the  poor  were  well  cared  for.  The  militia  amounted  to  2000, 
including  140  horsemen  ;  and  some  regular  troops  were  maintained 
for  the  forts  at  Albany  and  New  York.” 

Col.  Thomas  Dongan  arrived  at  New  York,  in  August,  1683,  as 
the  successor  of  Andros  in  the  government.  He  immediately,  on  the 
request  of  the  magistrates  of  New  York,  gave  orders  that  an  assem¬ 
bly  should  be  elected  by  the  freeholders.  This  assembly,  consisting 
of  a  council  of  ten,  and  eighteen  representatives,  convened  at  Hemp¬ 
stead  on  the  17th  of  October.  They  passed  an  act  of  general  natural¬ 
ization  ;  an  act  declaring  the  liberties  of  the  people,  or  a  Bill  of  Rights  ; 
one  for  defraying  the  expense  of  government ;  and  a  few  others,  regu¬ 
lating  the  internal  affairs  of  the  province.  In  1686,  James  II.  having 
come  to  the  throne,  on  the  renewal  of  Gov.  Dongan’s  commission, 
refused  to  confirm  the  privileges  granted  when  he  was  Duke  of  York. 
The  assembly  was  prohibited,  and  orders  were  given  to  Dongan  to 


GOV.  STUYVESANT. 

Copied  from  an  engraving  in  “  Watson's  Olden  Times  in  New  York.” 


DESTRUCTION  OF  SCHENECTADY 

Bv  a  party  of  French  and  Indians  from  Montreal,  Feb.  1(189.  (See  page  325.) 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


21 


“  suffer  no  printing-press  in  his  government .”  Much  disaffection 
arose  at  this  time,  among  the  colonists,  on  account  of  the  appointment 
of  professed  Catholics  to  the  principal  crown  offices.  At  this  period 
there  were  in  the  province  4000  foot,  300  horse,  and  one  company 
of  dragoons.  The  shipping,  belonging  to  the  city  of  New  York,  had 
increased  to  nine  or  ten  three-masted  vessels,  of  about  80  or  90  tons  ; 
200  or  300  ketches  or  barks,  of  40  tons  ;  and  about  twenty  sloops, 
of  twenty-five  tons. 

In  1687,  the  French  court  aimed  a  blow,  which  threatened  the 
British  interests  in  North  America.  M.  Denonville,  with  1500  French 
and  500  Indians,  took  the  field  against  the  Senecas,  one  of  the  con¬ 
federated  tribes  of  the  “  Five  Nations,”  who  were  the  friends  of  the 
English.  An  action  took  place  near  the  principal  Seneca  village,  in 
which  100  Frenchmen,  ten  French  Indians,  and  about  eighty  of  the 
Senecas  were  killed.  Denonville,  the  next  day,  marched  forward  to 
burn  the  village,  but  found  it  in  ashes.  The  Senecas  had  burnt  it, 
and  fled.  After  destroying  the  corn  in  this  and  several  other  villages, 
the  French  returned  to  Canada.  For  this  attack,  and  other  outrages 
committed  by  the  French,  the  confederated  Five  Nations  thirsted  for 
revenge.  “  On  the  26th  of  July,  1688,  twelve  hundred  of  their  men 
landed  on  the  south  side  of  the  island  of  Montreal,  while  the  French 
were  in  perfect  security,  burnt  their  houses,  sacked  their  plantations, 
and  put  to  the  sword  all  the  men,  women,  and  children,  without  the 
skirts  of  the  town.  A  thousand  French  were  slain  in  this  invasion, 
and  twenty-six  carried  into  captivity,  and  burnt  alive.  Many  more 
were  taken  prisoners  in  another  attack,  in  October,  and  the  lower  part 
of  the  island  wholly  destroyed  ;  only  three  of  the  confederates  were 
lost,  in  all  this  scene  of  misery  and  desolation.”  Nothing  but  the 
ignorance  of  the  Indians,  in  the  art  of  attacking  fortified  places,  saved 
Canada  from  being  utterly  cut  off. 

In  1688,  it  was  determined  to  add  New  York  and  the  Jerseys  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  New  England,  and  Sir  Edmund  Andros  was  ap¬ 
pointed  captain-general  and  vice-admiral  over  the  whole.  Governor 
Dongan  was  removed  from  his  office  of  governor,  and  Francis  Nichol¬ 
son,  who  had  been  lieutenant-governor  under  him,  was  appointed  in  his 
stead.  The  constitution,  established  on  this  occasion,  was  a  legisla¬ 
tive  and  executive  governor,  and  a  council,  who  were  appointed  by 
the  king,  without  the  consent  of  the  people.  The  news  of  the  acces¬ 
sion  of  William  and  Mary,  in  1689,  to  the  throne  of  England,  was 
joyfully  received  in  New  York.  Andros,  the  tyrant  of  New  Eng¬ 
land,  was  seized  at  Boston.  Jacob  Leisler,  with  forty-nine  men, 
seized  the  fort  at  New  York,  and  held  it  for  the  protestant  king  and 
queen  of  England. 

Leisler’s  assumption  of  the  command  at  New  York  excited  a  spirit 
of  envy  and  hatred  among  many  of  the  people,  at  the  head  of  whom 
were  Col.  Bayard  and  the  Mayor,  who,  unable  to  make  any  effectual 
resistance,  retired  to  Albany.  A  letter  arriving  from  the  English 
ministry,  addressed  “  To  Francis  Nicholson,  Esq.,  or,  in  his  absence, 
to  such  as,  for  the  time  being,  take  care  for  preserving  the  peace  and 


22 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


administering  the  laws  in  his  majesty’s  province  of  New  York,  &c.,” 
to  do  every  thing  pertaining  to  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor,  till 
farther  orders — Nicholson  having  absconded,  Leisler  considered  the 
letter  as  addressed  to  himself,  and  accordingly  assumed  the  office  of 
governor.  The  people  of  Albany,  though  friendly  to  William  and 
Mary,  refused  subjection  to  Leisler.  They  were  however  compelled 
to  submit  to  his  authority  by  an  armed  force  under  Milborn,  his  son- 
in-law.  The  colonists  continued  in  a  state  of  contention  nearly  two 
years.  During  this  period,  the  French  and  Indians  from  Canada,  in 
1690,  surprised  Schenectady,  and  massacred  sixty  men,  women,  and 
children. 

In  1691,  Col.  Henry  Sloughter  arrived  at  New  York,  as  governor 
of  the  province  ;  which  was,  at  this  time,  by  an  act  of  the  assembly, 
divided  into  ten  counties.  The  arbitrary  acts  of  James  were  repealed, 
and  the  former  privileges  of  the  colonists  were  restored.  Leisler 
and  Milborn,  having  made  a  foolish  attempt  to  retain  their  authority, 
were  imprisoned  on  a  charge  of  high  treason.  They  were  tried  by 
a  special  commission,  and  sentenced  to  suffer  death.  Gov.  Sloughter 
hesitated  to  command  their  execution,  and  wrote  to  the  English  min¬ 
isters  for  directions  how  to  dispose  of  them.  Their  enemies,  fearing 
the  result  of  this  application,  made  a  petition  for,  and  earnestly  pressed 
their  execution.  “  The  governor  resisted,  until,  having  been  invited 
by  the  petitioners  to  a  sumptuous  entertainment,  he  was,  when  his 
reason  was  drowned  in  wine,  seduced  to  sign  the  death-warrant. 
Before  he  recovered  his  senses,  the  prisoners  were  executed.”  Slough¬ 
ter  died  suddenly,  in  July,  1691,  and  ended  a  short,  weak,  and  turbu¬ 
lent  administration. 

Upon  the  death  of  Sloughter,  the  government,  pursuant  to  the  late 
act  for  declaring  the  rights  of  the  people,  committed  the  chief  com¬ 
mand  to  Richard  Ingoldsby.  His  authority  was  terminated  by  the 
arrival  of  Col.  Benjamin  Fletcher,  who  arrived  with  the  commission 
of  governor,  in  August,  1692.  Fletcher  is  represented  as  a  man  of 
violent  temper,  shallow  capacity,  and  avaricious  disposition.  He 
made  considerable  disturbance,  by  his  efforts  to  establish  the  Episco¬ 
pal  form  of  church  government  in  the  province.  By  virtue  of  a  com¬ 
mission  which  he  held,  Fletcher  attempted  to  take  the  command  of 
the  militia  of  Connecticut ;  and  went  to  Hartford,  in  that  colony, 
while  the  legislature  were  in  session,  to  compel  obedience.  While 
attempting  to  have  his  commission  read  to  the  train-bands  at  that 
place,  Capt.  Wadsworth,  their  senior  officer,  ordered  the  drums  to 
beat,  and  told  Fletcher,  who  commanded  “  silence,”  that  if  he  was 
interrupted  he  would  “  make  the  sun  shine  through  him.”  Fletcher 
upon  this  desisted,  and  returned  to  New  tjfork. 

Early  in  1693,  Count  Frontenac,  with  a  force  of  6  or  700  French 
and  Indians,  made  an  incursion  into  the  Mohawk  country,  and  sur¬ 
prised  an  Indian  village  on  the  river,  slew  many  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  took  300  prisoners.  Col.  Schuyler  hastened  to  the  assistance  of 
his  allies,  and  with  about  300  Indians,  mostly  boys,  followed  the  re¬ 
treating  enemy,  and  several  skirmishes  ensued.  When  the  French 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


23 


reached  the  north  branch  of  Hudson’s  river,  a  cake  of  ice  opportunely 
served  them  to  cross  it ;  and  Schuyler,  who  had  retaken  about  fifty 
Indians,  desisted  from  the  pursuit.  The  French,  in  this  expedition, 
lost  about  eighty  men,  and  such  were  their  sufferings,  that  they  were 
compelled  to  eat  their  own  shoes  ;  the  Iroquois,  while  in  pursuit,  fed 
upon  the  dead  bodies  of  their  enemies.  In  1090,  Frontenac  made 
another  descent,  with  a  large  force,  and  spread  devastation  among  the 
possessions  of  the  Five  Nations.  After  this  expedition,  the  Indians 
in  the  English  interest  continued  to  harass  the  inhabitants  near  Mon¬ 
treal,  and  similar  parties  in  the  French  interest  to  harass  those 
near  Albany,  until  the  peace  of  Ryswick,  in  1097. 

In  1098,  Richard,  Earl  of  Bellamont,  arrived  as  the  successor  of 
Fletcher,  and  his  commission  included  the  governments  of  Massachu¬ 
setts  and  New  York :  and  for  the  latter,  he  brought  with  him  his 
kinsman,  John  Nanfan,  as  lieutenant-governor.  Piracy,  at  this  time, 
prevailed  in  the  American  seas  to  a  great  extent,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  several  colonies  were  accused  of  giving  the  pirates  aid.  The  most 
noted  of  these  marauders  was  a  Captain  Kidd,  the  remembrance  of 
whom  is  kept  alive  by  the  belief  that  he  buried  immense  sums  of  money 
along  the  coast.  To  suppress  piracy  was  one  of  the  avowed  purposes 
of  the  king,  in  selecting  a  man  of  the  high  rank,  resolution,  and  integ¬ 
rity  of  the  Earl  of  Bellamont.  The  earl  died  in  1701,  and  Nanfan,  the 
lieutenant-governor,  assumed  the  command.  Lord  Cornbury  was 
appointed  governor  the  following  year. 

Cornbury  began  his  administration  by  espousing  one  of  the  factions 
in  the  colony  which  had  its  rise  from  Leisler,  who  was  executed  for 
treason.  By  a  series  of  outrageous  acts,  he  endeavored  to  establish 
the  Episcopal  party.  He  prohibited  the  Dutch  ministers  and  teach¬ 
ers  from  exercising  their  functions  without  his  special  license,  and 
imprisoned  some  of  them  for  disobeying  his  orders.  This  tyrant  was 
the  grandson  of  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  and  first  cousin  of  the  queen. 
“  Having  dissipated  his  substance  in  riot  and  debauchery,  and  being 
compelled  to  fly  from  his  creditors,  he  obtained  from  his  patron  the 
government  of  New  York,  which  was  confirmed  by  the  queen,  who 
added  the  government  of  New  Jersey.  His  character  is  portrayed 
as  a  compound  of  bigotry  and  intolerance,  rapacity  and  prodigality, 
voluptuousness  and  cruelty,  united  with  the  loftiest  arrogance  and 
the  meanest  chicane.”  His  dissolute  habits  and  ignoble  manners 
completed  the  disgust  with  which  he  was  universally  regarded ;  and 
when  he  was  seen  rambling  abroad  in  the  dress  of  a  woman,  the  people 
beheld  wTith  indignation  and  shame  the  representative  of  their  sove¬ 
reign  and  the  ruler  of  the  colony.  In  1709,  the  queen  was  compelled 
to  revoke  his  commission  by  the  complaints  of  the  people  of  New 
York  and  New  Jersey.  When  deprived  of  his  office,  his  creditors 
put  him  in  prison  in  the  province  he  had  governed,  where  he  remain¬ 
ed  till  the  death  of  his  father  elevated  him  to  the  peerage,  which 
entitled  him  to  liberation. 

John,  Lord  Lovelace,  Baron  of  Hurley,  the  successor  of  Cornbury, 
arrived  in  the  province,  December,  1708.  The  hopes  entertained, 


24 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


from  his  exalted  character,  of  a  happy  administration,  were  frustrated 
by  his  death  on  the  succeeding  5th  of  May.  The  government  now 
devolved  upon  Richard  Ingoldsby,  lieutenant-governor.  His  admin¬ 
istration  of  eleven  months  is  chiefly  distinguished  by  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  on  Canada.  In  this  attempt,  the  province  of  New  York  dis¬ 
covered  much  zeal.  Besides  raising  several  companies,  she  procured 
six  hundred  warriors  of  the  Five  Nations,  paid  their  wages,  and 
maintained  a  thousand  of  their  wives  and  children  at  Albany  while 
they  were  in  the  campaign,  at  the  expense  of  about  twenty  thousand 
pounds.  In  1710,  Colonel  Schuyler  went  to  England,  to  press  upon 
the  ministry  the  importance  of  subduing  Canada.  The  more  effectu¬ 
ally  to  accomplish  this  object,  he  took  with  him  five  Indian  chiefs, 
who  gave  Queen  Anne  assurances  of  their  fidelity,  and  solicited  her 
assistance  against  their  common  enemies,  the  French.* 

Brigadier-general  Robert  Hunter,  a  native  of  Scotland,  arrived  as 
governor  of  the  province,  in  June,  1710.  He  brought  with  him  three 
thousand  Palatines,  who,  in  the  previous  year,  had  fled  to  England 
from  the  rage  of  persecution  in  Germany.  Many  of  these  persons 
settled  in  the  city  of  New  York,  others  in  Livingston  Manor  in  Co¬ 
lumbia  county,  while  others  went  into  Pennsylvania.  In  1711,  the 
assembly  of  New  York,  in  order  to  assist  the  enterprise  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Nicholson  for  the  reduction  of  Canada,  passed 
an  act  for  raising  troops,  restricted  the  price  of  provisions,  and  issued 
10,000/.  in  bills  of  credit,  to  be  redeemed  by  taxation  in  five  years. 
Nicholson  mustered  at  Albany  two  thousand  colonists,  one  thousand 


*  “  The  arrival  of  the  five  sachems  in  England,  made  a  great  bruit  through  the  whole 
kingdom.  The  mob  followed  wherever  they  went,  and  small  cuts  of  them  were  sold 
among  the  people.  The  court  was  at  that  time  in  mourning  for  the  death  of  the  Prince  of 
Denmark  ;  these  American  kings  were,  therefore,  dressed  in  black  underclothes,  after  the 
English  manner ;  but  instead  of  a  blanket,  they  had  each  a  scarlet-in-grain  cloth  mantle 
edged  with  gold,  thrown  over  all  their  other  garments.  This  dress  was  directed  by  the 
dressers  of  the  play-house,  and  given  by  the  queen,  who  was  advised  to  make  a  show  of 
them.  A  more  than  ordinary  solemnity  attended  the  audience  they  had  of  her  majesty. 
Sir  Charles  Cotterel  conducted  them  in  two  coaches  to  St.  James’s ;  and  the  Lord  Cham¬ 
berlain  introduced  them  into  the  royal  presence.  Their  speech  on  the  19  th  of  April,  1710, 
is  preserved  by  Oldmixon,  and  is  in  these  words : 

“  Great  Queen — We  have  undertaken  a  long  voyage,  which  none  of  our  predecessors 
could  be  prevailed  upon  to  undertake,  to  see  our  great  queen,  and  relate  to  her  those  things 
which  we  thought  absolutely  for  the  good  of  her,  and  us  her  allies,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
water. 

“We  doubt  not  but  our  great  queen  has  been  acquainted  with  our  long  and  tedious  war, 
in  conjunction  with  her  children  against  her  enemies,  the  French,  and  that  we  have  been 
as  a  strong  wall,  for  their  security,  even  to  the  loss  of  our  best  men.  We  were  mightily 
rejoiced  when  we  heard  our  great  queen  had  resolved  to  send  an  army  to  reduce  Canada ; 
and  immediately,  in  token  of  friendship,  we  hung  up  the  kettle,  and  took  up  the  hatchet, 
and  with  one  consent,  assisted  Colonel  Nicholson,  in  making  preparations  on  this  side  the 
lake  :  but  at  length,  we  were  told  our  great  queen,  by  some  important  affairs,  was  prevented 
in  her  design  at  present,  which  made  us  sorrowful,  lest  the  French,  who  had  hitherto  dreaded 
us,  should  now  think  us  unable  to  make  war  against  them.  The  reduction  of  Canada  is 
of  great  weight  to  our  free  hunting  ;  so  that  if  our  great  queen  should  not  be  mindful  of  us, 
we  must,  with  our  families,  forsake  our  country,  and  seek  other  habitations,  or  stand  neuter, 
either  of  which  will  be  much  against  our  inclinations. 

“  In  token  of  the  sincerity  of  these  nations,  we  do,  in  their  names,  present  our  great 
queen  with  these  belts  of  wampum,  and  in  hopes  of  our  great  queen’s  favor,  leave  it  to  her 
most  gracious  consideration.” 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


25 


Palatines,  and  one  thousand  Indians,  who  commenced  their  march 
towards  Canada  on  the  28th  of  August.  A  fleet,  under  the  command 
of  Admiral  Walker,  sailed  from  Boston  with  a  land  force  of  six  thou¬ 
sand  four  hundred  men,  with  the  intention  of  joining  Colonel  Nich¬ 
olson  before  Quebec.  The  admiral  arrived  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
early  in  August,  but  owing  to  fogs  and  tempestuous  weather,  eight  or 
nine  transports,  with  about  a  thousand  men,  were  lost  by  shipwreck. 
This  put  an  end  to  the  expedition,  and  the  admiral  sailed  for  Eng¬ 
land.  Nicholson,  who  had  proceeded  as  far  as  Lake  George,  was 
compelled  to  retreat.  The  peace  of  Utrecht,  signed  March,  1713, 
put  an  end  to  hostilities,  and  continued  till  1739. 

Governor  Hunter,  after  a  wise  and  popular  administration,  left  the 
province  in  1719,  and  the  command  devolved  on  Colonel  Peter  Schuy¬ 
ler.  In  September,  1720,  William  Burnet,  son  of  the  celebrated  Bishop 
Burnet,  arrived  as  the  successor  of  Governor  Hunter.  His  administra¬ 
tion  of  seven  years  was  prosperous.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  the  trade  and  friendship  of  the  Six  Nations,  he 
erected  a  trading-house  at  Oswego,  in  the  country  of  the  Senecas. 
The  great  merit  of  Governor  Burnet’s  administration  consisted  in  his 
effectual  efforts  to  diminish  the  trade  and  influence  of  the  French 
with  the  northern  Indians.  He  failed,  however,  in  his  endeavors  to 
prevent  the  establishment  of  a  French  fort  at  Niagara,  by  which  they 
secured  to  themselves  the  possession  of  the  west  end  of  Lake  Ontario, 
as  they  had  previously  that  of  the  east  by  the  erection  of  Fort  Fron- 
tinac  many  years  before.  The  persecutions  in  France  at  this  period, 
which  ensued  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantz,  drove  many  of  the 
protestant  subjects  of  Louis  XIV.  into  foreign  countries.  Many  fled 
to  this  province.  The  most  wealthy  settled  in  the  city :  others  planted 
New  Rochelle  on  the  East  river,  and  a  few  seated  themselves  at 
New  Paltz  in  Ulster  county. 

In  1728,  Colonel  John  Montgomery  received  from  Governor  Bur¬ 
net  the  seal  of  the  province,  and  assumed  the  government.  His  short 
administration,  terminated  by  his  death  in  1731,  was  one  of  tranquillity, 
and  not  distinguished  by  any  important  event.  During  his  term,  in 
1731,  the  boundary  between  New  York  and  Connecticut  was  finally 
settled ;  and  a  tract  of  land  upon  the  Connecticut  side,  of  60,000 
acres,  called  the  Oblong ,  was  ceded  to  the  former  in  consideration  of 
another  near  the  Sound,  surrendered  to  the  latter. 

Governor  Montgomery  was  succeeded  by  Rip  Van  Dam,  the  old¬ 
est  member  of  the  council,  and  an  eminent  merchant  of  the  city,  who 
held  the  government  until  August,  1732,  when  William  Cosby  ar¬ 
rived,  with  a  commission  to  govern  this,  and  the  province  of  New 
Jersey.  The  French,  during  this  year,  erected  Fort  Frederic  at 
Crown  Point,  which  gave  to  them  the  command  of  Lake  Champlain. 
The  finances  at  this  period  were  much  embarrassed ;  while  the  fre¬ 
quent  calls  for  supplies  imposed  a  heavy  burden  upon  the  colony. 

In  1734,  the  establishment  of  a  court  of  equity  was  agitated  in  the 
assembly.  The  governors  had  previously  exercised  the  office  of  chan¬ 
cellor,  which  had  at  times  exerted  the  jealousy,  and  produced  much 


26 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


controversy  among  the  colonists.  The  court  party  insisted  that  the 
governor  was,  ex  officio,  chancellor  of  the  colony,  while  the  popular 
party  warmly  opposed  this  position.  After  the  close  of  the  session, 
there  appeared  in  the  paper  called  “  Zenger’s  New  York  Weekly 
Journal,”  severe  animadversions  on  the  government.  Several  printed 
ballads  likewise  appeared,  which  ridiculed  some  of  the  members  ol 
the  legislature.  The  governor  and  council  considering  the  subject 
worthy  of  notice,  voted  that  the  obnoxious  numbers  of  Zenger’s 
paper,  and  two  printed  ballads,  were  derogatory  to  the  dignity  ot  his 
majesty’s  government,  and  tended  to  raise  sedition  and  tumult.  They 
likewise  voted  that  said  papers  and  ballads  should  be  burnt  by  the 
common  hangman.  Zenger  was  imprisoned  for  eight  months,  and 
much  ferment  was  produced  in  the  colony. 

Governor  Cosby  died  in  March,  1736.  One  of  his  last  acts  was  the 
suspension  of  Rip  Van  Dam  from  his  seat  as  councillor  of  the  pro¬ 
vince.  After  Cosby’s  death,  the  council  immediately  convened,  and 
George  Clarke,  the  senior  councillor,  next  after  Rip  Van  Dam,  was 
declared  president,  and  assumed  the  government.  A  powerful  party, 
however,  was  formed  in  favor  of  Mr.  Van  Dam,  as  his  suspension 
from  the  council  was  by  many  declared  illegal.  The  sharp  contro¬ 
versy  on  this  point  was  ended  in  October,  when  Mr.  Clarke  received 
his  commission  as  lieutenant-governor. 

During  the  administration  of  Governor  Clarke,  the  colony  was 
embroiled  in  controversies  principally  relating  to  the  prerogatives  of 
the  governor  on  one  hand,  and  the  rights  of  the  people  on  the  other. 
In  their  second  session,  1737,  the  house  departed  from  their  accus¬ 
tomed  mode  of  proceeding,  and  instead  of  voting  to  take  the  govern¬ 
or’s  speech  into  consideration,  voted  that  his  honor  the  lieutenant- 
governor  be  addressed.  This  address  is  a  remarkable  production 
for  the  times  in  which  it  was  formed.  On  the  subject  of  the  revenue, 
the  house  adopted  the  following  bold  and  energetic  language: 

“  The  true  causes  of  the  deficiency  in  the  revenue,  we  believe  are  too  well  known  to 
your  honor,  to  make  it  necessary  for  us  to  say  much  on  that  head.  Had  the  conspicuous 
loyalty  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  province  met  with  a  suitable  treatment  in  return,  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  we  should  now  be  weak  enough  to  act  like  others  before  us,  in  being  lavish 
beyond  our  abilities,  and  raising  sums  unnecessary  to  be  given,  and  continued  the  donation 
like  them  for  a  longer  time  than  what  was  convenient  for  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants ;  but 
experience  has  shown  the  imprudence  of  such  a  conduct ;  and  the  miserable  condition  to 
which  the  province  is  reduced,  renders  the  raising  of  large  sums  very  difficult  if  not  imprac. 
ticable.  We  therefore  beg  leave  to  be  plain  with  your  honor,  and  hope  you  will  not  take  it 
amiss  when  we  tell  you,  that  you  are  not  to  expect  that  we  will  raise  sums  unfit  to  be 
raised,  or  put  what  we  shall  raise  into  the  power  of  a  governor  to  misapply,  if  we  can  pre¬ 
vent  it ;  nor  shall  we  make  up  any  other  deficiencies  than  what  we  conceive  are  fit  and 
just  to  be  paid,  or  continue  what  support  or  revenue  we  shall  raise  for  any  longer  time  than 
one  year ;  nor  do  we  think  it  convenient  to  do  even  that,  until  such  laws  are  passed  as  we 
conceive  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony,  who  have  reposed  a  trust 
in  us  for  that  only  purpose,  and  which  we  are  sure  you  will  think  it  reasonable  we  should 
act  agreeable  to,  and  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  shall  endeavor  not  to  deceive  them.” 

In  1738,  Captain  Norris,  of  the  ship  Tartar,  then  lying  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  made  application  to  the  mayor  for  liberty  to  impress  thirty 
seamen  to  man  his  vessel.  The  governor  and  council  ordered  the 
mayor  to  cause  the  impressment  to  be  made.  The  mayor  refused  to 


CUTLINE  HISTORY. 


27 


obey  the  order,  and  the  governor  and  council  prudently  declined  ta¬ 
king  measures  to  enforce  obedience.  At  the  close  of  Clarke’s  admin¬ 
istration,  the  finances  of  the  colony  were  in  a  depressed  condition. 
“  The  duties  on  negro  slaves,  wine,  rum,  brandy,  cocoa,  and  dry 
goods,  from  September,  1741,  to  September,  1742,  amounted  to 
£2,197  7s.  lfd.  only  ;  while  the  expenses  of  government,  for  about 
the  same  period,  amounted  to  upwards  of  £4,600.” 

In  1743,  George  Clinton,  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  supersede  Mr.  Clarke  as  governor  of  the  colony.  His 
arrival  was  highly  gratifying  to  the  colonists,  and  a  spirit  of  harmony 
prevailed.  In  1744,  war  was  declared  between  France  and  England, 
and  great  preparations  were  made  on  both  sides,  to  carry  it  on  with 
vigor.  A  similar  spirit  prevailed  in  their  respective  colonies  in  Amer¬ 
ica.  Large  appropriations  were  made  by  the  assembly  of  New  York 
to  carry  on  the  war.  In  1745,  the  English  colonies  united  in  an  ex¬ 
pedition  against  Louisburg,  on  Cape  Breton  Island.  This  important 
fortress  was  surrendered  in  June.  Eight  thousand  pounds  was  voted 
by  the  assembly  for  the  promotion  of  this  enterprise. 

The  country  north  of  Albany  was  kept  in  a  continued  state  of 
alarm  by  Indian  warriors,  who  ranged  in  small  parties,  marking  their 
course  by  conflagration  and  indiscriminate  slaughter.  The  fort  at 
Hoosic  was  captured  by  M.  De  Vaudreuil,  in  August,  1740  ;  and  the 
settlements  at  Saratoga  were  surprised,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants 
killed  or  carried  into  captivity.  These  events  caused  much  distress, 
and  occasioned  much  alarm  even  in  Ulster  and  Orange  counties.  The 
plan  of  the  war,  in  1746,  was,  that  a  squadron  under  the  command 
of  Admiral  Warren,  with  a  body  of  land  forces,  should  proceed  up 
the  St.  Lawrence  ;  while  the  troops  from  New  York,  and  other  colo¬ 
nies  at  the  south,  should  be  collected  at  Albany,  and  proceed  against 
Crown  Point  and  Montreal.  The  assembly  of  New  York  entered 
with  great  zeal  upon  this  design :  they  levied  a  tax  of  £40,000,  to  re¬ 
deem  bills  issued  for  the  occasion.  In  July,  a  congress  of  the  Six 
Nations  was  held  with  the  governor,  at  Albany,  who  was  attended 
by  Dr.  Colden,  Mr.  Livingston,  and  Mr.  Rutherford,  members  of  the 
council.  The  indisposition  of  the  governor  prevented  him  from  open¬ 
ing  the  council  in  person,  and  that  duty  fell  upon  Dr.  Colden.  The 
Indians  formally  renewed  their  pledge  to  unite  zealously  in  the  war 
against  the  French.  The  efforts  of  the  colonies  were,  however, 
rendered  nearly  useless  by  the  failure  of  the  promised  assistance  from 
England. 

In  April,  1748,  the  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed  at  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  and  hostilities  soon  after  ceased.  After  the  close  of  the 
war,  the  colony  enjoyed  a  period  of  general  tranquillity.  The  in¬ 
habitants  vigorously  pursued  the  arts  of  peace,  and  by  industry, 
economy,  and  enterprise,  repaired,  in  a  great  measure,  the  losses  sus¬ 
tained  in  the  preceding  war.  In  1750,  the  entries  at  New  York  were 
two  hundred  and  thirty-two,  and  the  clearances  two  hundred  and 
eighty-six.  Above  six  thousand  tons  of  provisions,  chiefly  flour,  were 
exported,  besides  large  quantities  of  grain. 


28 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


Governor  Clinton  having  resigned,  Sir  Danvers  Osborne  arrived  as 
his  successor,  in  October,  1753.  “  Clinton  is  represented  to  have  been 
mercenary ;  to  have  used  every  plausible  device,  for  enhancing  the 
profits  of  his  government ;  to  have  sold  offices  and  even  the  rever¬ 
sions  of  such  as  were  ministerial ;  and  to  have  amassed  a  fortune, 
during  his  administration  of  ten  years,  of  more  than  £80,000  sterling. 
He  became,  afterward,  governor  of  Greenwich  Hospital.”  The  ad¬ 
ministration  of  Sir  Danvers  Osborne  endured  but  a  few  days  only. 
Five  days  after  his  arrival,  he  was  found  suspended  by  the  neck  in 
the  garden  of  Mr.  Murray,  with  whom  he  resided.  This  unfortu¬ 
nate  gentleman  is  supposed  to  have  committed  suicide  on  account 
of  grief  for  the  loss  of  his  wife,  and  by  the  embarrassments  which 
he  apprehended  would  attend  the  exercise  of  his  office  as  gov¬ 
ernor. 

James  de  Lancey,  who  had  been  appointed  lieutenant-governor  by 
one  of  the  last  acts  of  Governor  Clinton,  on  the  death  of  Osborne 
assumed  the  administration  of  government.  At  this  period,  the  Eng¬ 
lish  and  French  extended  their  settlements  in  the  colonies,  and  each 
were  anxious  to  secure  the  most  eligible  situations  for  trading-houses 
and  forts.  Mutual  complaints  of  aggression  were  soon  followed  by 
open  acts  of  hostility. 

In  1754,  a  convention  of  delegates  from  New  Hampshire,  Massa¬ 
chusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland, 
with  the  lieutenant-governor  and  council  of  New  York,  was  held  at 
Albany,  for  the  purpose  of  uniting  upon  some  scheme  for  the  com¬ 
mon  defence.  The  plan  for  a  political  union,  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Frank¬ 
lin,  a  delegate  from  Pepnsylvania,  was  adopted  on  the  4th  of  July. 
This  plan  had  the  singular  fortune  to  be  rejected  by  the  provincial 
assemblies,  because  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  crown ;  and,  at 
the  same  time,  to  be  rejected  by  the  crown,  because  it  gave  too  much 
power  to  the  people. 

In  September,  1755,  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  a  distinguished  naval  offi¬ 
cer,  arrived  in  New  York  with  commission  of  governor.  Being 
ignorant  of  civil  affairs,  he  put  himself  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  De 
Lancey,  and  was  guided  altogether  by  his  counsels.  Early  in  the 
spring  of  this  year,  the  colonies  made  preparations  for  vigorous  exer¬ 
tions  against  the  enemy.  An  expedition  was  planned  against  the 
French  in  Nova  Scotia,  another  against  the  French  on  the  Ohio,  a 
third  against  Crown  Point,  and  a  fourth  against  Niagara.  The  first 
expedition  resulted  in  the  reduction  of  Nova  Scotia.  That  against 
the  French  on  the  Ohio  failed  by  the  defeat  of  General  Braddock, 
who  was  drawn  into  an  ambuscade  of  French  and  Indians  near  Fort 
du  Quesne.  The  expedition  against  Crown  Point,  commanded  by 
Gen.  Wm.  Johnson,  though  unsuccessful  in  its  main  object,  served,  in 
a  measure,  to  dispel  the  gloom  occasioned  by  the  defeat  of  Braddock. 
Governor  Shirley,  of  Massachusetts,  took  the  command  of  the  expe¬ 
dition  against  Niagara.  He  advanced  to  Oswego,  where,  being  poorly 
supplied  with  provisions,  the  expedition  was  abandoned,  and  the  troops 
returned  to  Albany.  During  the  winter  and  spring  following,  ma- 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


29 


rauding  parties  of  western  Indians  committed  many  atrocities  in  the 
counties  of  Orange  and  Ulster. 

In  the  plan  of  operations  for  the  campaign  of  1756,  Niagara  and 
Crown  Point,  then  in  possession  of  the  French,  were  the  principal 
points  of  attack.  Owing  to  the  improvidence  of  Gen.  Abercrombie, 
then  in  command,  in  the  absence  of  Lord  Loudon,  nothing  of  import¬ 
ance  was  effected  by  the  English  forces.  In  August,  Marquis  de 
Montcalm,  commander  of  the  French  troops  in  Canada,  captured  the 
two  forts  at  Oswego,  which  he  demolished,  took  1,600  men  prisoners, 
with  120  cannon,  14  mortars,  two  sloops-of-war,  200  boats  and  bat- 
teaux,  with  a  large  quantity  of  stores  and  provisions.  The  campaign 
of  1757  was  equally  unsuccessful  on  the  part  of  the  English.  Fort 
William  Henry,  on  Lake  George,  with  a  garrison  of  3,000  men  under 
Col.  Munro,  was  compelled,  after  a  brave  defence,  to  surrender  to 
Montcalm.  This  event  gave  the  French  the  command  of  the  lake 
anxi  the  western  frontier. 

In  1758,  the  celebrated  William  Pitt,  Lord  Chatham,  now  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  British  ministry,  gave  a  new  tone  to  their  measures, 
and  a  fresh  impulse  to  the  colonies.  The  tide  of  success  was  soon 
turned  in  favor  of  the  English,  which  continued,  with  few  exceptions, 
till  Canada  was  subjected  to  their  arms.  The  plan  for  this  year  com¬ 
prehended  three  expeditions,  viz,  Louisburg,  Ticonderoga,  and  Fort 
du  Quesne.  Louisburg  surrendered  to  Gen.  Amherst  in  July.  Gen. 
Abercrombie,  with  an  army  of  16,000  men,  passed  Lake  George  and 
made  an  attack  on  Ticonderoga.  After  a  contest  of  four  hours,  he 
was  compelled  to  retire  with  the  loss  of  nearly  two  thousand  in 
killed  and  wounded.  Abercrombie,  after  his  defeat,  sent  Col.  Brad- 
street,  with  3,000  men,  against  Fort  Froixtenac,  on  the  northeastern 
side  of  the  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario.  Bradstreet  sailed  down  the  lake, 
landed  within  a  mile  of  the  fort,  and  in  two  days  compelled  it  to 
surrender.*  The  garrison  at  Fort  du  Quesne,  unsustained  by  their 
savage  allies,  on  the  24th  of  November  abandoned  and  burnt  this 
fortress  on  the  approach  of  the  British  army  under  Gen.  Forbes. 

Great  Britain,  having  resolved  to  annihilate  the  French  power  in 


*  The  expedition  under  Col.  Bradstreet  consisted  of  the  following  troops : — Regulars, 
135  ;  Royal  artillery,  30  ;New  York  provincials,  1,112  ;  Massachusetts  do.,  675  ;  New  Jer. 
sey  do.,  412 ;  Rhode  Island  do.,  318  ;  batteau-men,  300  ;  and  about  60  rangers ;  in  all 
3,035.  The  regulars  were  commanded  by  Capt.  Ogilvie,  and  the  artillery  by  Lieut.  Brown, 
The  New  York  troops  consisted  of  two  detachments.  The  first  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Charles  Clinton,  ofUlster,  amounting  in  the  whole  to440, under  Capts.  Ogden, ofWest- 
chester,  Peter  Dubois,  of  New  York,  Samuel  Bladgely,  of  Dutchess,  and  Daniel  Wright,  oi 
Queens.  The  second  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Isaa*c  Corse,  of  Queens,  and 
Major  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  of  Suffolk,  amounting  to  668,  under  Captains  Elias  Hand,  of  Suf¬ 
folk,  Richard  Hewlett,  of  Queens,  Thomas  Arrowsmith,  of  Richmond,  William  Humphrey, 
of  Dutchess,  Ebenezer  Seeley,  ofUlster,  and  Peter  Yates  and  Goosen  Van  Schaick,  of  Al¬ 
bany.  The  troops  left  Fort  Stanwix,  August  14th,  1758,  and  the  fort  capitulated  on  the 
27th.  The  commander  of  the  fort  was  exchanged  for  Col.  Peter  Schuyler.  Col.  Corse, 
who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  three  preceding  campaigns,  with  a  part  of  his  troops, 
volunteered  to  erect  a  battery,  in  the  night  of  the  26th,  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy’s  fire, 
which  in  the  morning  commanded  their  fort,  and  led  to  an  immediate  surrender.  The 
colonel  received  a  slight  wound,  but  not  so  severe  as  to  unfit  him  for  duty.  The  detach, 
ment  returned  to  Fort  Stanwix  the  10th  of  September.” — Gordon's  Gaz.  of  New  York. 


30 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


America,  made  adequate  preparations  for  the  campaign  of  1759. 
The  colonies  now  displayed  that  zeal  with  which  men  pursue  their 
interests  when  animated  with  well-founded  hopes  of  success.  The 
legislature  of  New  York  authorized  a  levy  of  2,680  men,  and  issued 
the  sum  of  £100,000  in  bills  of  credit,  bearing  interest,  and  redeem¬ 
able  in  1768,  by  the  proceeds  of  an  annual  tax.  The  impositions,  in 
the  space  of  five  months  of  the  year  1759,  amounted  to  $625,000. 
At  the  instance  of  Gen.  Amherst,  a  loan  of  £150,000  was  made  to 
the  crown,  which  was  paid  in  specie. 

The  contemplated  points  of  attack,  in  1759,  were  Ticonderoga, 
Crown  Point,  Niagara,  and  Quebec.  Gen.  Amherst  took  Ticonde¬ 
roga,  and  proceeded  to  Crown  Point,  which  surrendered  without  op¬ 
position.  In  July,  Gen.  Prideaux  invested  Niagara,  but  was  slain  by 
the  bursting  of  a  cohort  in  the  trenches.  The  fort  was,  however, 
captured  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  who  succeeded  him  in  command. 
On  the  13th  of  September,  a  severe  battle  was  fought  between  the 
British  forces  under  Gen.  Wolfe,  and  the  French  under  Montcalm. 
Both  these  commanders  were  killed,  the  French  were  defeated,  and 
Quebec  surrendered  to  the  British  arms.  In  the  ensuing  spring  of 
1760,  the  French  made  a  fruitless  attempt  to  recover  Quebec.  On 
the  8th  of  September,  Montreal,  Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  and  all 
other  places  within  the  government  of  Canada,  were  surrendered  to 
his  Britannic  majesty. 

The  conquest  of  Canada,  by  preventing  the  incursions  of  the  French 
and  Indians  into  the  territory  of  New  York,  removed  a  great  obstacle 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  colony.  Gov.  De  Lancey  died  suddenly, 
July  30th,  1760.  Cadwallader  Colden  assumed  the  government,  as 
president  of  the  council,  and  received  the  appointment  of  lieutenant- 
governor  in  August,  1761.  Mr.  Colden  was  superseded  by  General 
Robert  Monckton  on  the  26th  of  October.  This  gentleman  being 
placed  at  the  head  of  an  expedition  against  Martinique,  on  the  15th 
of  November,  left  the  government  of  the  province  to  Mr.  Colden, 
under  an  agreement  for  an  equal  division  of  the  salary  and  per¬ 
quisites. 

In  1763,  the  celebrated  controversy  with  New  Hampshire,  respect¬ 
ing  boundaries,  commenced.  The  territory  in  question  comprised  the 
country  between  Connecticut  river  and  Lake  Champlain,  since  known 
as  Vermont.  The  original  character  of  the  colonies,  owing  to  im¬ 
perfect  surveys  of  the  country,  were  many  of  them  extremely  indefi¬ 
nite,  vague,  and  often  contradictory.  A  grant  was  made  in  1664 
and  1674,  by  Charles  II.  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  containing, 
among  other  parts  of  America,  “  all  the  lands,  from  the  west  side  of 
Connecticut  river,  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  bay.”  This  territory 
was,  however,  by  many  supposed  to  fall  within  the  limits  of  New 
Hampshire,  although  claimed  by  New  York,  by  virtue  of  the  grant 
made  to  the  Duke  of  York. 

The  government  of  New  Hampshire,  in  1760,  made  large  grants 
of  land  to  settlers  west  of  Connecticut,  and  the  settlements  progressed 
with  astonishing  rapidity.  In  1763,  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


31 


townships  had  been  granted  by  New  Hampshire,  extending  as  far 
west  as  the  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  to  what  was  esteemed 
twenty  miles  east  of  Hudson  river.  To  check  these  proceedings, 
Gov.  Golden  issued  a  proclamation,  claiming  jurisdiction  as  far  east 
as  Connecticut  river.  He  also  commanded  the  sheriff  of  Albany 
county  to  make  return  of  all  persons,  who,  under  the  New  Hampshire 
grants,  had  taken  possession  of  lands  west  of  the  river.  In  opposi¬ 
tion  to  this,  the  governor  of  New  Hampshire  issued  a  proclamation, 
declaring  the  grant  of  the  Duke  of  York  to  be  obsolete,  and  that 
New  Hampshire  extended  as  far  west  as  Massachusetts  and  Con¬ 
necticut. 

Application  having  been  made  to  the  crown,  a  decision  was  ob¬ 
tained  in  1764,  by  which  the  western  bank  of  Connecticut  river  was 
declared  to  be  the  boundary  line  between  the  provinces  of  New 
Hampshire  and  New  York.  The  government  of  New  York  proceeded 
to  organize  the  new  territory,  and  to  exercise  jurisdiction.  The  new 
district  was  divided  into  four  counties.  The  southwestern  part  was 
annexed  to  the  county  of  Albany,  and  the  northwestern  part  formed 
into  a  county,  by  the  name  of  Charlotte  ;  east  of  the  Green  Moun¬ 
tains  were  formed  the  counties  of  Gloucester  and  Cumberland.  Courts 
were  held  in  these  counties,  the  grants  of  land  under  New  Hamp¬ 
shire  were  declared  illegal,  and  the  settlers  required  to  take  out  new 
charters  from  New  York.  Some  of  the  towns  complied,  and  pur¬ 
chased  their  lands  the  second  time,  but  the  greater  part  refused.  Ac¬ 
tions  of  ejectment  were  commenced  in  Albany  against  several  of  the 
ancient  settlers,  which  were  decided  in  favor  of  the  New  York  titles. 
When  the  executive  officers  came  to  eject  the  inhabitants,  they  gene¬ 
rally  met  with  opposition,  and  were  not  allowed  to  proceed  in  the 
execution  of  their  offices.  The  militia  were  called  out  to  support 
the  sheriff;  but  as  they  agreed  in  sentiment  with  the  settlers,  they 
disbanded  themselves  on  the  appearance  of  armed  opposition.  As 
the  efforts  of  the  government  were  continued,  mobs  were  raised,  the 
opposition  of  the  settlers  became  more  bold  and  daring,  and  was  fre¬ 
quently  characterized  by  acts  of  outrage  and  violence. 

In  1765,  much  excitement  was  produced  by  the  stamp  act ,  passed 
by  the  British  parliament,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  from 
the  colonies.  This  act  ordained  that  all  instruments  of  writing,  such 
as  deeds,  bonds,  notes,  &c.,  among  the  colonies,  should  be  null  and 
void,  unless  executed  on  stamped  paper ,  for  which  a  duty  should  be 
paid  to  the  crown.  In  October,  a  congress  of  twenty-eight  delegates, 
from  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  South  Carolina,  was 
held  at  New  York,  to  consult  on  the  common  interest.  They  made 
a  declaration  of  the  rights  and  grievances  of  the  colonies,  and  peti¬ 
tioned  for  redress.  In  Connecticut  and  New  York  originated  an 
association  of  persons  styling  themselves  the  “  Sons  of  Liberty 
which  extended  into  other  colonies,  who  bound  themselves,  among 
other  things,  to  march  to  any  part  of  the  continent,  at  their  own  ex¬ 
pense,  to  support  the  British  constitution  in  America  :  by  which  was 


32 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


understood,  the  prevention  of  any  attempt  to  carry  the  stamp  act  into 
operation. 

In  New  York,  Peter  de  Lancey,  James  M‘Evers,  and  other  stamp 
officers,  obeyed  the  public  voice,  and  renounced  their  commissions. 
Gov.  Colden,  having  taken  the  oath  to  execute  the  stamp  act,  became 
the  object  of  popular  indignation.  His  effigy  was  carried  about  the 
city  and  hung ;  his  carriage  and  other  property  were  burned  ;  and 
his  person  was  probably  preserved  from  violence,  only  by  his  ad¬ 
vanced  age.  When  the  stamps  arrived,  they  were  lodged  in  the  fort, 
which  the  governor,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  his  council,  put  into  a 
state  for  defence.  He  was  obliged  to  surrender  their  custody  to  the 
city  corporation,  on  the  assurance  of  being  responsible  for  their  value, 
and  to  declare  that  he  would  take  no  measures  to  enforce  the  act,  but 
leave  the  subject  to  his  successor,  who  was  hourly  expected.  Sir 
Henry  Moore,  Bart.,  who  was  commissioned  governor  in  July,  1765, 
met  the  council  on  the  13th  of  November  following,  and  proposed  at 
once  to  attempt  the  execution  of  the  stamp  act.  The  unanimous  ad¬ 
vice  of  his  council,  and  the  demonstration  of  public  feeling,  induced 
him  to  a  more  prudent  course. 

Gov.  Moore’s  administration  was  terminated  by  his  death,  in  Sep¬ 
tember,  1769.  During  his  term  of  service  efforts  were  made,  unsuc¬ 
cessfully,  to  settle  the  boundaries  between  this  province  and  Massa¬ 
chusetts,  who  claimed  territory  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Emigrants 
from  Massachusetts  intruded  into  the  counties  along  the  Hudson,  and 
settled  even  in  the  manor  of  Rensselaerwyck.  They  were  frequently 
removed  by  force,  and  blood  was  shed  more  than  once  in  the  attempt. 
Commissioners  from  both  colonies  met  at  New  Haven,  October,  1767, 
who  agreed  that  the  western  line  of  Massachusetts  should  be  fixed 
at  twenty  miles  east  from  Hudson  river,  but  differed  as  to  the  man¬ 
ner  in  which  that  line  should  be  determined. 

At  the  termination  of  Gov.  Moore’s  administration,  the  supreme 
court  consisted  of  four  judges :  Daniel  Horsemanden,  chief  justice  ; 
David  Jones,  second  ;  William  Smith,  third  ;  and  Robert  R.  Livings¬ 
ton,  the  fourth  justice.  The  first  received  £300,  and  the  others 
£200  per  annum.  The  salary  of  the  governor  had  been  increased, 
from  time  to  time,  to  £2,000  per  annum,  with  a  perquisite  of  £400, 
granted  as  an  appropriation  for  fire-wood  and  candles  for  Fort  George. 
The  attorney  had  £150,  and  the  colonial  agent,  Mr.  Charles,  at  Lon¬ 
don,  £500  per  annum.  The  colony  of  New  York  contained,  at  this 
period,  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  inhabitants. 

By  the  death  of  Sir  Henry  Moore,  the  government  again  devolved 
on  Mr.  Colden.  This  his  third  administration,  continued  till  Novem¬ 
ber,  1770,  when  he  was  superseded  by  John,  Lord  Dunmore.  With 
the  service  of  this  nobleman  commenced  the  practice  of  paying  the 
governor  by  the  crown.  This  practice  was  afterward  denounced 
by  most  of  the  colonies  as  a  serious  grievance,  as  it  made  the  govern¬ 
or  independent  of  the  assembly.  Dunmore  governed  the  colony  until 
his  removal  to  Virginia,  when  his  place  was  supplied  on  the  8th  of 
July,  1771,  by  William  Tryon,  the  last  of  the  royal  governors. 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


33 


In  1772,  Governor  Tryon  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  con¬ 
ciliate  the  minds  of  the  settlers  of  the  New  Hampshire  grants.  In 
1774,  the  assembly  passed  an  act  by  which  it  was  declared  felony, 
punishable  by  death,  for  any  of  these  settlers  to  oppose  the  govern¬ 
ment  by  force.  The  governor  at  the  same  time  made  proclamation 
offering  a  reward  of  fifty  pounds  for  the  apprehension  of  Ethan  Al¬ 
len,  Seth  Warner,  and  six  others  of  the  most  obnoxious  of  the  settlers. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  New  Hampshire  grants  became  still  more 
violent  in  their  opposition.  The  proscribed  persons,  in  an  address  to 
the  people  of  the  county  of  Albany,  made  this  public  declaration : — 
“We  will  kill  and  destroy  any  person  or  persons  whomsoever,  who 
shall  presume  to  be  accessary,  aiding,  or  assisting  in  taking  any  of  us.” 

In  the  spring  of  1775,  an  event  took  place  in  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  which  exasperated  both  parties.  At  the  time  appointed  for 
the  session  of  the  court  at  Westminster,  in  the  disputed  territory, 
some  of  the  inhabitants  in  this  and  the  adjacent  towns  took  possession 
of  the  courthouse,  to  prevent  the  officers  under  the  authority  of  New 
York  from  entering.  The  judges,  on  being  refused  admittance,  retired 
to  their  quarters.  About  eleven  o’clock  at  night,  the  sheriff  and  other 
officers,  attended  by  an  armed  force,  repaired  to  the  courthouse, 
when,  being  again  refused  admittance,  some  of  the  party  fired  into  the 
house,  killed  one  man,  and  wounded  several.  The  people  were  highly 
inflamed  by  these  rash  proceedings.  Some  of  the  officers  were  seized, 
and  carried  to  the  jail  at  Northampton,  Massachusetts.  Matters  now 
appeared  about  to  be  brought  to  a  sanguinary  crisis.  But  at  this 
period,  an  event  took  place,  which  arrested  the  attention  of  all,  and 
gave  a  new  channel  to  the  torrent  of  popular  fury.  The  breaking 
out  of  the  revolutionary  war  at  Lexington,  caused  a  suspension  of 
local  and  provincial  contests ;  and  the  public  mind  was  exclusively 
directed  to  the  great  contest  now  opening  between  Britain  and 
America. 

In  May,  1775,  the  second  continental  congress  was  to  be  assembled 
at  Philadelphia.  The  subject  of  sending  delegates  to  this  body  was 
agitated  in  the  assembly  of  New  York  ;  and  on  the  refusal  of  that  body 
to  appoint  them,  a  provincial  convention  was  called  by  the  people  for 
this  purpose.  The  convention  assembled  at  New  York  on  the  22d  of 
April,  and  proceeded  to  make  the  appointments.  This  convention 
was  composed  of  deputies  from  New  York,  Albany,  Dutchess,  Ulster, 
Orange,  Westchester,  Kings,  and  Suffolk  counties.  They  appointed 
Philip  Livingston,  George  Clinton,  James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  Simon 
Boerum,  William  Floyd,  John  Jay,  Henry  Wisner,  Philip  Schuyler 
Lewis  Morris,  Francis  Lewis,  and  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Jr.,  dele¬ 
gates  to  the  continental  congress,  who,  or  any  five  of  them,  were 
intrusted  with  full  power  to  concert  with  the  other  colonies,  and  adopt 
those  measures  best  adapted  to  sustain  their  rights. 

The  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  (19th  of  April,  1775,)  caused 
a  violent  agitation  in  the  city  of  New  York,  which  prevailed  for  some 
days,  until  a  new  committee  of  superintendence,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  of  the  most  respectable  citizens,  was  formed  at  the  instance 


34 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


of  the  “  committee  of  observation.”  It  was  resolved  that  a  provincial 
congress  ought  to  be  speedily  assembled,  to  assume  the  government 
of  the  colony,  to  prepare  for  defence,  &c.  It  submitted  at  the  same 
time  the  form  of  an  association,  to  be  signed  by  the  inhabitants,  de¬ 
claratory  of  their  rights  and  liberties,  and  of  their  determination  to 
sustain  them.  This  association  was  signed  by  the  whigs  with  great 
cordiality,  and  by  the  tories  under  the  fear  of,  or  by  actual  constraint. 
The  inhabitants  generally  began  to  arise  under  the  direction  of  com¬ 
mittees.  Six  hundred  stands  of  arms  were  seized  in  the  city  arsenal 
and  distributed  among  the  people :  another  parcel  was  taken  from 
the  soldiery  by  Colonel  Willet,  when  on  the  way  to  the  harbor  to  be 
exported  to  Boston. 

It  was  deemed  of  importance,  in  order  to  put  the  country  in  a  pos¬ 
ture  of  defence,  to  secure  the  fortresses  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point.  On  the  10th  of  May,  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  took  possession  of 
Ticonderoga  by  surprise :  on  the  same  day,  Crown  Point  was  sur¬ 
rendered  to  Colonel  W arner  ;  a  third  party  surprised  Skeensborough, 
(now  Whitehall.)  The  capture  of  an  armed  sloop  at  St.  Johns  soon 
after,  gave  to  the  Americans  the  entire  command  of  Lake  Champlain. 
Governor  Tryon,  who  had  been  absent  on  a  visit  to  Europe,  returned 
to  New  York  on  the  24th  of  June.  He  was  much  esteemed  by 
many  of  the  citizens,  and  received  a  complimentary  address  from  the 
city  authorities.  His  exertions  to  promote  the  royal  cause,  soon  ren¬ 
dered  him  extremely  unpopular.  In  October,  he  became  alarmed  for 
his  personal  safety,  and  retired  on  board  of  the  Halifax  packet. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1775,  a  provincial  congress,  consisting  of  about 
seventy  members,  convened  at  New  York.  The  proceedings  of  the 
convention  were  determined  by  counties ;  New  York  having  four, 
Albany  three,  and  each  of  the  others  two  votes.  Two  regiments 
were  authorized  to  be  levied  ;  bounties  were  offered  for  the  manufac¬ 
ture  of  gunpowder  and  muskets  in  the  province  ;  fortifications  were 
projected  at  Kingsbridge,  and  the  Highlands  ;  and  Philip  Schuyler 
and  Richard  Montgomery  were  recommended,  the  first  as  major- 
general,  the  second  as  brigadier,  to  be  appointed  by  the  continental 
congress. 

Upon  the  adjournment  of  the  congress,  in  September,  for  a  month, 
they  delegated  their  powers  to  a  “  Committee  of  Safety ;”  and  this  ex¬ 
pedient  was  resorted  to  upon  every  subsequent  adjournment.  Ordina¬ 
rily,  this  committee  was  composed  of  three  members  from  the  city, 
and  one  from  each  of  the  other  counties.  When  on  the  re-assembling 
of  the  congress,  and  at  other  times,  a  quorum  was  not  present,  the 
members  resolved  themselves  into  a  “  committee  of  safety,”  and  thus 
the  public  business  was  never  interrupted.  The  committee  was  em¬ 
powered  to  execute  the  resolves  of  the  provincial  and  general  con¬ 
gresses,  to  superintend  the  military  affairs  of  the  province,  to  appro¬ 
priate  money  for  the  public  service,  and  to  convene  the  congress 
when  and  where  they  deemed  necessary. 

VV  hile  General  W ashington  was  engaged  in  organizing  the  main 
body  of  the  American  army  in  Massachusetts,  an  important  expedi- 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


35 


tion  was  planned  against  Canada,  the  command  of  which  was  assign¬ 
ed  to  Generals  Schuyler  and  Montgomery.  General  Schuyler  having 
retired  on  account  of  ill  health,  Montgomery,  with  a  force  of  one 
thousand  men,  proceeded  to  Montreal,  and  from  thence  led  his  gallant 
little  army  to  Quebec.  During  his  progress,  Colonel  Arnold,  with  a 
boldness  and  perseverance  rarely  surpassed,  passed  up  the  Kennebec 
river  and  pursued  his  course  through  a  trackless  wilderness  of  three 
hundred  miles,  and  joined  Montgomery  at  Quebec.  On  the  last  day 
of  the  year,  (1775,)  General  Montgomery,  with  a  force  of  less  than 
eight  hundred,  attempted  to  take. Quebec  by  storm.  This  brave  com¬ 
mander  fell  in  the  assault,  and  the  Americans  were  repulsed  with  the 
loss  of  about  half  their  number.  Arnold,  now  in  the  command,  en¬ 
camped  about  three  miles  from  Quebec,  where  he  maintained  his 
position  till  spring.  He  was  afterward  compelled  to  make  a  disas¬ 
trous  retreat,  and  by  the  1st  of  July  the  whole  army  was  driven  from 
Canada. 

Congress  being  informed  that  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Tryon  county  were  disaffected  to  the  American  cause,  and,  under  the 
direction  of  Sir  John  Johnson,  were  making  military  preparation,  re¬ 
solved  to  disarm  them.  General  Schuyler,  to  whom  this  business 
was  committed,  in  January,  1770,  called  out  seven  hundred  of  the 
Albany  militia,  and  commenced  his  march.  But  such  was  the  enthu¬ 
siasm  of  the  people  that,  on  his  arrival  at  Caghnewaga,  his  force 
amounted  to  near  three  thousand,  including  nine  hundred  of  the 
Tryon  county  militia.  The  approach  of  this  formidable  body  awed 
the  royalists  into  submission.  The  whole  number  disarmed  was 
supposed  to  amount  to  about  six  hundred.  About  the  same  time,  a 
considerable  number  were  entrenching  themselves  on  Long  Island, 
in  order  to  support  the  royal  cause.  A  detachment  of  the  Jersey 
militia  was  sent  over,  by  whom  they  were  disarmed,  and  their  lead¬ 
ers  secured. 

The  fourth  provincial  congress  convened  at  White  Plains  on  the 
9th  of  July.  This  body  took  the  title  of  “  The  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  New  York?  and  exercised  all  the  powers  of  sovereignty, 
until  the  establishment  of  the  government  under  the  constitution.  On 
the  first  day  of  their  meeting,  they  received  from  the  continental  con¬ 
gress  The  Declaration  of  Independence.  They  immediately  passed 
an  unanimous  resolution,  fully  approving  of  the  measure,  and  express¬ 
ing  their  determination  at  all  hazards  to  support  it.  The  convention, 
on  the  16th  of  July,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Jay,  declared  that  all  per¬ 
sons  abiding  in  the  state,  and  who  were  entitled  to  the  protection  of 
the  laws,  who  should  aid  or  abet  its  enemies,  should  on  conviction 
suffer  death. 

In  1776,  it  was  expected  that  the  enemy  would  make  New  York 
their  principal  point  of  attack.  Gen.  Washington  arrived  in  the  city 
on  the  14th  of  April,  and  great  exertions  were  made  for  putting  the 
place  in  a  posture  of  defence.  On  the  22d  of  August,  Lord  Howe 
landed  a  force,  estimated  at  24,000  men,  on  Long  Island,  at  Gravesend 
bay.  The  Americans,  amounting  to  15,000,  under  the  command  of 


36 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


Gen.  Sullivan,  were  encamped  on  a  peninsula  near  the  village  of 
Brooklyn.  On  the  27th,  an  obstinate  battle  was  fought,  and  the  Ameri¬ 
cans  were  compelled  to  retire  to  their  entrenchments  with  great  loss. 
On  the  night  of  the  30th,  a  safe  retreat  was  effected  from  the  island. 
On  the  15th  of  September,  the  British  took  possession  of  New  York, 
the  American  troops  having  retired  to  Harlaem  and  King’s  Bridge. 
A  few  days  after  the  British  took  possession,  a  fire  broke  out,  in  which 
about  one  thousand  houses  were  destroyed,  being  about  one  fourth 
part  of  the  city. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  distinguished  and  wealthy  inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  many  in  the  adjacent  country,  were  loy¬ 
alists,  and,  of  course,  enemies  to  American  independence.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  British  army,  the  disaffected  in  this  part  of  the  state 
and  the  neighboring  parts  of  New  Jersey,  embodied  themselves  under 
officers  selected  by  themselves.  Oliver  de  Lancey  was  appointed  a 
general,  with  authority  to  raise  a  brigade  of  tories,  and  a  like  com¬ 
mission  was  given  to  Courtland  Skinner,  of  New  Jersey.  These 
troops  committed  many  murders  and  robberies  on  both  sides  of  the 
Hudson  river,  but  more  especially  in  Westchester  county.  The  pro¬ 
vincial  congress  now  adopted  energetic  measures.  The  “  Council  of 
Safety”  were  empowered  to  send  for  persons  and  papers,  and  to  em¬ 
ploy  military  force.  By  its  dread  power  numerous  arrests,  imprison¬ 
ments,  and  banishments,  were  made  throughout  the  state.  Many 
tories  and  their  families  were  sent  into  New  York,  others  expelled  the 
state,  others  required  to  give  security  to  reside  within  prescribed 
limits  ;  and  occasionally  the  jails,  and  even  the  churches,  were  crowded 
with  its  prisoners,  and  many  were  sent  for  safe-keeping  to  the  jails 
of  Connecticut.  The  personal  property  of  those  who  had  joined  the 
enemy  was  confiscated. 

The  American  army  being  in  point  of  numbers  greatly  inferior  to 
that  of  the  British,  General  Washington  drew  off  the  main  body  of 
his  army  from  York  Island,  and  encamped  at  White  Plains.  Lord 
Howe  advanced  upon  him  with  15,000  men.  An  engagement  ensued 
on  the  28th  of  October,  but  no  decisive  advantage  was  obtained ;  the 
Americans  retired  to  a  strong  position  on  the  heights  of  North  Cas¬ 
tle,  which  the  enemy  declined  to  attack.  General  Washington,  leav¬ 
ing  about  7,500  men  under  General  Lee  to  defend  North  Castle, 
crossed  the  Hudson  and  continued  his  retreat  to  the  southward.  The 
American  army  continuing  to  retire  from  New  York,  Sir  William 
Howe  embraced  the  opportunity  of  reducing  Fort  Washington  and 
Fort  Lee,  on  the  Hudson.  While  these  operations  were  going  on  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  state,  the  northern  division  of  the  army,  under 
General  Gates,  was  engaged  at  the  north  in  putting  Ticonderoga  in 
a  state  of  defence,  and  made  preparations  to  secure  the  command  of 
Lake  Champlain.  General  Arnold,  who  commanded  the  American 
fleet,  being  pursued,  was  obliged  to  blow  up  his  vessels,  and,  after 
firing  the  fortress  at  Crown  Point,  retreated  to  Ticonderoga.  The 
British  general,  Carlton,  after  reconnoitering  the  latter  place,  deemed 
it  prudent  on  the  approach  of  winter  to  return  to  Canada. 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


3~ 


The  state  convention,  driven  from  New  York,  convened  from  time 
to  time  at  Harlaem,  King’s  Bridge,  Philip’s  Manor,  Fishkill,  White 
Plains,  Poughkeepsie,  and  Kingston.  On  the  1st  of  August,  1776,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  report  a  constitution.  The  draft  of  this 
instrument,  which  was  prepared  by  Mr.  Jay,  was  reported  on  the 
12th  of  March,  and  finally  adopted  on  the  20th  of  April,  1777.  It 
was  amended  by  convention  in  October,  1801,  and  superseded  by  the 
present  constitution  in  November,  1821.  The  constitution  of  1777 
wras  republican  in  its  character.  The  supreme  executive  power  was 
vested  in  a  governor  and  lieutenant-governor,  who  was  to  preside 
over  the  senate,  and  perform  the  duties  of  the  governor  in  case  of 
vacancy.  The  legislative  power  was  vested  in  the  senate  and  house 
of  assembly,  who  were  to  hold  at  least  one  session  every  year.  The 
governor  and  members  of  the  senate  and  house  of  assembly,  were 
to  be  elected  by  \he  freeholders  of  the  state  of  New  York. 

The  returns  of  the  first  elections  under  the  new  constitution  were 
made  to  the  Council  of  Safety,  July  9th,  1777.  General  George 
Clinton  was  chosen  governor,  and  was  sworn  into  office  on  the  30th 
of  the  same  month,  at  Kingston,  being  then  in  the  active  command  of 
the  New  York  militia.  lie  did  not  quit  the  field  until  after  the  defeat 
of  Burgoyne,  but  discharged  such  civil  duties  as  devolved  on  him,  by 
correspondence  with  the  Council  of  Safety.  At  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution,  the  state  was  divided  into  fourteen  counties  :  New  York, 
Richmond,  Kings,  Queens,  Suffolk,  Westchester,  Dutchess,  Orange, 
Ulster,  Albany,  Tryon,  Charlotte,  Cumberland,  and  Gloster ;  the  two 
last  form  part  of  thg  present  state  of  Vermont.  The  first  six  (except 
part  of  Westchester  and  part  of  Orange)  remained  in  possession  of 
the  enemy  until  the  peace,  the  highlands  forming  the  great  barrier  to 
his  farther  advance  from  the  south. 

The  principal  object  of  the  British  in  the  campaign  of  1777,  was 
to  open  a  communication  between  the  city  of  New  York  and  Canada, 
and  to  separate  the  New  England  from  the  other  states.  The  plan 
consisted  of  two  parts  :  General  Burgoyne,  with  the  main  body  of 
the  army  from  Canada,  was  to  advance  by  the  way  of  Lake  Cham¬ 
plain,  and  effect  a  junction,  at  Albany,  with  the  royal  army  from  New 
York.  A  detachment  of  British  soldiers  and  a  large  body  of  Indians, 
under  Colonel  St.  Leger,  with  a  regiment  of  New  York  loyalists, 
under  Sir  John  Johnson,  were  to  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Lake 
Ontario,  and  penetrate  towards  Albany  by  way  of  the  Mohawk  river. 
General  Burgoyne,  with  an  army  of  more  than  7,000  men,  exclusive 
of  a  corps  of  artillery  and  a  large  body  of  Indians,  invested  Ticon- 
deroga  on  the  30th  of  June.  This  fortress  was  abandonded  by 
General  St.  Clair,  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  rear-guard 
of  the  American  army,  consisting  of  1,000  men,  under  Colonel  War¬ 
ner,  was  overtaken  and  defeated  at  Hubbardston.  General  Schuyler, 
who  commanded  at  Fort  Edward,  was  obliged  to  retire  to  Saratoga 
before  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  While  the  British  were  en¬ 
camped  at  Fort  Edward,  a  detachment,  under  Colonel  Baum,  was 
sent  to  take  possession  of  the  American  stores  at  Bennington,  in  the 


38 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


New  Hampshire  grants.  General  Stark  collected  the  militia  in  that 
vicinity,  and  an  obstinate  engagement  took  place,  in  which  the  British 
were  totally  defeated.  On  the  3d  of  August,  St.  Leger,  with  about 
1,800  men,  invested  Fort  Schuyler,  under  the  command  of  General 
Gansevoort.  He  had  a  severe  conflict  with  General  Herkimer,  who 
was  advancing  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison,  and  was  obliged  to  aban¬ 
don  the  siege  and  return  to  Montreal.  General  Burgoyne,  having 
advanced  as  far  as  Saratoga,  found  himself  surrounded  by  a  brave 
army,  from  which  he  endeavored  in  vain  to  effect  a  retreat.  In  this 
extremity,  on  the  17th  of  October,  he  was  compelled  to  surrender  his 
whole  army,  consisting  of  more  than  5,700  men,  to  General  Gates. 

During  the  operations  at  Saratoga,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  three 
thousand  men,  proceeded  up  the  Hudson,  with  the  view  of  effecting 
a  diversion  in  favor  of  Burgoyne.  On  the  6th  of  October,  he  made 
an  attack  on  forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton.  These  works  were  car¬ 
ried  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  but  most  of  the  garrisons  escaped. 
Forts  Independence  and  Constitution  were  evacuated,  and  General 
Putnam,  who  had  the  command  on  the  Hudson,  retreated  to  Fishkill. 
General  Tryon  on  the  following  day  burned  Continental  Village, 
where  considerable  stores  were  deposited;  General  Vaughan  with  a 
strong  detachment,  proceeding  up  the  river,  devastated  the  settle¬ 
ments  along  its  banks,  burned  the  village  of  Kingston,  and  then  em¬ 
barked  for  New  York. 

In  the  campaigns  of  1778  and  1779,  nothing  decisive  was  effected  ; 
the  British  engaged  in  no  enterprise  of  much  importance,  and  appear 
to  have  aimed  at  little  more  than  to  plunder  and  devastate  the  unpro¬ 
tected  parts  of  the  country.  Many  acts  of  cruelty  were  committed, 
and  a  great  amount  of  public  and  private  property  destroyed.  The 
main  body  of  the  American  army  was  concentrated  near  West  Point, 
for  the  protection  of  that  important  fortress.  General  Clinton,  having 
seized  the  works  at  Verplanck’s  Neck  and  Stoney  Point,  General 
Washington  formed  a  design  for  their  recovery.  The  reduction  of 
the  fortress  at  Stoney  Point  by  Gen.  Wayne,  by  assault,  on  the  16th 
of  July,  1779,  was  one  of  the  most  bold  and  daring  enterprises  which 
occurred  during  the  war. 

The  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  (with  the  exception  of  the  Oneidas 
and  a  few  others)  had  been  induced  by  the  presents  and  promises  of 
Sir  John  Johnson,  and  with  the  desire  of  plunder,  to  invade  the  fron¬ 
tiers,  and  wherever  they  went  they  carried  slaughter  and  devasta¬ 
tion.  To  put  a  stop  to  these  incursions,  congress,  in  August,  1779, 
sent  General  Sullivan  with  an  army  against  them.  Sullivan,  with  a 
force  of  3,000  men,  marched  from  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  to  Tioga 
Point,  where  he  was  joined  by  General  Clinton,  who  marched  from 
the  Mohawk  with  a  force  of  about  one  thousand  men.  The  Indians 
collected  their  forces,  and  took  a  strong  position  near  Newtown,  Tioga 
county,  determining  to  resist  the  advance  of  Sullivan.  They  stood 
a  cannonade  for  more  than  two  hours,  during  which  time  they  repelled 
several  assaults ;  they  were,  however,  compelled  to  give  way  and 
abandon  their  works.  Generals  Sullivan  and  Clinton  penetrated  with- 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


39 


out  obstruction  into  the  heart  of  the  Seneca  country,  and  spread  deso¬ 
lation  on  every  side.  Eighteen  towns  and  villages,  besides  hamlets 
and  detached  habitations,  were  burnt.  All  their  fields  of  corn,  their 
orchards  and  gardens,  were  entirely  destroyed.  By  this  summary 
proceeding  the  ardor  of  the  Indian  warriors  was  damped,  and  their 
inroads  became  much  less  frequent  and  destructive. 

At  the  period  of  this  expedition,  different  parts  of  the  state  suffered 
severely  from  the  depredations  of  detached  parties  of  Indians.  In 
July,  Colonel  Brandt,  with  a  party  of  Indians  and  royalists,  burned 
the  Minisink  settlement  and  took  several  prisoners.  In  August,  the 
Indians  with  their  tory  associates  destroyed  the  settlements  at  Cana- 
joharie,  and  burnt  a  number  of  houses  at  Schoharie  and  Norman’s 
creek.  In  October,  these  irruptions  were  renewed,  a  great  extent  of 
country  about  the  Mohawk  was  laid  waste,  and  many  of  the  settlers 
were  killed  or  made  prisoners. 

During  the  year  1780  and  1781,  the  operations  of  the  war  were 
chiefly  conducted  in  the  southern  states,  the  British  occupying  the 
city  of  New  York  and  its  vicinity.  In  1780,  a  plot,  fraught  with  im¬ 
minent  danger  to  the  American  cause,  was  happily  discovered.  Gen¬ 
eral  Arnold  having  solicited  and  obtained  the  command  of  West 
Point,  entered  into  a  negotiation  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  to  deliver 
that  important  fortress  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  To  facilitate 
the  correspondence,  John  Andre,  the  adjutant-general  of  the  British 
army,  proceeded  up  the  Hudson  in  the  Vulture  sloop-of-war,  as  near 
West  Point  as  practicable,  without  exciting  suspicion.  On  the  night 
of  September  21st,  Andre  went  on  shore  in  a  boat,  and  met  Arnold 
on  the  beach.  Failing  to  get  on  board  the  Vulture  again,  Andre  at¬ 
tempted  to  return  to  New  York  by  land,  in  disguise.  Receiving  a 
passport  from  Arnold,  he  passed  the  guards  and  outposts  without 
suspicion.  When  about  thirty  miles  from  New  York,  he  was  met 
by  three  militia-men,  Paulding,  Williams,  and  Van  Wert,  who,  re¬ 
fusing  the  bribes  which  Andre  offered,  carried  him  to  their  command¬ 
ing  officer.  He  was  tried  as  a  spy  by  a  board  of  officers,  condemned, 
and  executed. 

The  capture  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  Virginia,  convinced  the 
British  government  of  the  impracticability  of  conquering  the  United 
States.  The  provisional  articles  of  peace  between  the  two  countries 
were  signed  at  Paris,  November  30th,  1782.  On  the  19th  of  April, 
1783,  a  formal  proclamation  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities  was  made 
throughout  the  army,  and  the  definitive  treaty,  acknowledging  the 
independence  of  the  United  States,  was  signed  on  the  30th  of  Sep¬ 
tember.  The  British  troops  evacuated  New  York  on  the  25th  of 
November,  and  the  Americans  took  possession  the  same  day. 

The  termination  of  the  revolutionary  >var,  and  the  adoption  of  the 
federal  constitution  in  1788,  gave  a  new  aspect  to  the  affairs  of  the 
country.  During  the  war  a  considerable  portion  of  New  York  was 
in  possession  of  the  enemy,  and  many  of  its  most  fertile  tracts  open 
to  their  ravages  :  many  of  the  new  settlements  were  broken  up.  On 
the  return  of  peace  these  were  resumed,  and  many  others  commenced, 


40 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


which  progressed  with  astonishing  rapidity.  Commerce,  also,  expe¬ 
rienced  a  rapid  revival  on  the  return  of  peace.  In  1791,  the  exports 
to  foreign  ports  amounted  to  above  two  million  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  In  1793,  six  hundred  and  eighty-three  foreign  vessels,  and 
one  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty-one  coasting  vessels,  entered 
the  port  of  New  York. 

The  controversy  relative  to  the  New  Hampshire  grants  still  con¬ 
tinued.  Frequent  application  had  been  made  by  both  parties  to  the 
general  congress  for  the  interference  of  that  body,  but  no  decisive 
result  was  obtained.  In  1789,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  in  order 
to  settle  this  controversy,  and  acknowledging  the  territory  as  an  in¬ 
dependent  state.  Commissioners  were  mutually  appointed,  and  in 
1 790,  after  a  controversy  of  twenty-six  years,  the  subject  was  brought 
to  an  amicable  adjustment.  In  1791,  the  new  state  was  admitted  into 
the  Union,  with  the  name  of  Vermont. 

In  1786,  the  state  of  New  York,  to  quiet  or  put  at  rest  certain  an¬ 
tiquated  claims  of  Massachusetts  to  a  portion  of  her  territory,  granted 
that  state  large  tracts  of  vacant  lands.  These  lands  consisted  of  two 
parts  :  one  part  comprehended  all  that  part  of  the  state  lying  west 
of  a  line  beginning  at  the  north  at  the  mouth  of  Great  Sodus  bay, 
on  Lake  Ontario,  and  running  thence  southerly  to  the  north  line  of 
Pennsylvania,  except  one  mile  on  the  east  side  of  Niagara  river,  and 
the  islands  in  that  stream.  This  tract  consisted  of  six  millions  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  thousand  acres,  and  was  called  the  Genesee 
Country.  The  other  tract  comprehended  ten  or  twelve  townships, 
of  six  square  miles  each,  embraced  in  the  counties  of  Broome  and 
Tioga.  These  cessions  embraced  about  10,000  square  miles,  nearly 
one  fourth  of  the  state,  New  York  ceding  every  thing,  save  sove¬ 
reignty,  to  Massachusetts  without  an  equivalent.  The  government 
of  Massachusetts  sold  the  first  tract  to  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel 
Gorham,  for  one  million  of  dollars,  and  the  other  to  John  Brown 
and  others,  for  three  thousand  three  hundred  dollars  and  some  cents. 

The  “ Military  Lands”  as  they  were  called,  were  set  apart  by  the 
legislature,  in  1782,  for  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  who  should  serve  in  the  army  of  the  United  States  till  the  end 
of  the  war,  according  to  law.  The  military  tracts  contained  about 
one  million  eight  hundred  thousand  acres,  comprehending,  generally 
speaking,  the  counties  of  Onondaga,  Cortlandt,  Cayuga,  Tompkins, 
and  Seneca,  and  parts  of  the  counties  of  Oswego  and  Wayne.  Pre¬ 
vious  to  the  cession  made  to  Massachusetts,  and  the  grant  made  to 
the  soldiers,  the  Indian  title  was  not  extinguished.  Messrs.  Phelps 
and  Gorham,  and  the  government  of  New  York,  had  to  extinguish 
these  before  settlements  could  be  made.  The  first  permanent  settle¬ 
ment  made  in  the  western  territory  was  by  Hugh  White,  in  1784,  in 
company  with  four  or  five  families  from  Connecticut,  who  seated 
themselves  at  Whitestown,  near  Utica. 

A  party  of  emigrants,  in  1790  or  1791,  made  a  road  through  the 
woods  from  the  settlements  of  Whitestown  to  Canandaigua.  Emigra¬ 
tion  now  increased  from  year  to  year.  The  winter  was  the  season 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


41 


usually  chosen  for  emigrating  from  New  England  to  the  western 
country.  Then,  as  the  country  was  shaded  by  forest  trees,  there  was 
commonly  snow  enough  for  sleighing.  In  1796,  the  British  evac¬ 
uated  forts  Oswegatchie  and  Oswego,  and  immediately  afterward  set- 
ments  were  begun  at  these  places.  In  1797  and  1798,  settlements 
were  commenced  at  Lowville,  Watertown,  and  Brownville,  in  the 
counties  of  Lewis  and  Jefferson.  Settlements  were  now  rapidly  ex¬ 
tended  on  every  side.  The  settlements  along  the  great  road  from 
Utica  to  Genesee  river,  were  mostly  connected  by  the  year  1800,  and 
from  that  year  the  western  country  began  to  attain  consequence  in 
the  councils  of  the  state. 

In  1795,  Governor  Clinton,  having  for  eighteen  years  discharged 
the  office  of  governor,  declined  a  re-election  on  account  of  sustaining 
the  republican  principle  of  rotation  in  office.  He  was  succeeded  by 
John  Jay,  who  continued  in  the  office  till  1801,  when  Mr.  Clinton 
again  accepted  a  re-election.  In  1796,  the  legislature  granted  the 
Oneida  Indians  an  annuity  of  $5,552,  in  lieu  of  all  former  stipulations 
for  lands  purchased  in  1795 ;  $2,300  to  the  Cayugas  ;  and  $2,000  to 
the  Onondagas.  A  general  organization  act  was  passed  in  1801, 
dividing  the  state  into  thirty  counties.  Mr.  Clinton,  having  been 
elected  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  Morgan  Lewis  succeeded 
him  as  governor,  in  1804.  Mr.  Lewis  was  succeeded  by  Daniel 
D.  Tompkins,  in  1807.  Albany,  the  same  year,  was  made  the  capi¬ 
tal  of  the  state. 

In  1810,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  “for  exploring  the 
route  of  an  inland  navigation  from  Hudson’s  river  to  Lake  Ontario 
and  Lake  Erie.”  Commissioners  were  appointed  for  this  purpose, 
who  made  a  report  the  following  year.*  The  subject  now  began  to 
excite  general  interest,  and  a  bill  being  introduced  by  Mr.  Clinton,  an 
act  was  passed,  “  to  provide  for  the  improvement  of  the  internal  navi¬ 
gation  of  the  state.”  Commissioners  were  again  appointed  to  solicit 

*  The  first  legislative  movement  with  reference  to  a  communication  like  the  present 
canal  between  the  Hudson  and  Lake  Erie,  was  brought  about  by  the  exertions  of  Mr. 
Joshua  Forman,  then  a  member  of  assembly  from  Onondaga  county,  who  proposed  to  the 
House,  February  4th,  1808,  that  “  a  joint  committee  be  appointed,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  propriety  of  exploring  and  causing  an  accurate  survey  to  be  made  of  the  most  eligible 
and  direct  route  for  a  canal,  to  open  a  communication  between  the  tide  waters  of  the  Hud. 
son  and  Lake  Erie,  to  the  end  that  congress  may  be  enabled  to  appropriate  such  sums  as 
may  be  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  that  great  object.”  “  The  proposition,”  says 
Gordon,  in  his  very  able  Gazetteer,  “  was  received  by  the  House  *  with  spell  expressions  of 
surprise  and  ridicule,  as  are  due  to  a  very  wild  and  foolish  project.’  It  was  fortunately, 
however,  firmly  sustained  by  the  proposer  and  his  friends,  and  finally  sanctioned  upon  the 
principle,  ‘  that  it  could  do  no  harm  and  might  do  some  good.’  But  the  joint  committee,  pre¬ 
possessed  in  favor  of  the  Oswego  route,  directed  the  surveyor-general  to  cause  a  survey  of 
the  rivers,  streams,  and  waters  in  the  usual  route  between  Hudson  river  and  Lake  Erie,  and 
such  other  route  as  he  might  deem  proper :  shifting  to  the  surveyor-general  the  responsi¬ 
bility  of  countenancing  a  project  deemed  absurd.  Six  hundred  dollars,  only,  could  be  pro¬ 
cured  for  the  exploration .  When  in  January,  1809,  Mr.  Forman  waited  upon 

President  Jefferson,  and  informed  him  that  in  view  of  his  proposal  to  expend  the  surplus 
revenues  of  the  nation  in  making  roads  and  canals,  the  state  of  New  York  had  explored 
the  route  of  a  canal  from  the  Hudson  to  Lake  Erie,  and  had  found  it  practicable  ;  and  when 
he  had  described  all  the  advantages  anticipated,  the  president  replied,  ‘  that  it  was  a  very 
fine  project,  and  might  be  executed  a  century  hence'  ” 

6 


42 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


aid  from  the  congress  of  the  United  States.  De  Witt  Clinton  and 
Governeur  Morris  were  appointed  to  lay  the  subject  before  the  gen¬ 
eral  government.  They  proceeded  to  Washington,  and  presented  a 
memorial  to  congress ;  but  were  unsuccessful  in  their  application  to 
that  body  for  assistance.  In  March,  1812,  the  commissioners  again 
made  a  report  to  the  legislature,  and  insisted  that  now  sound  policy 
demanded  that  the  canal  should  be  made  by  the  state  on  her  own 
account.  The  subject  was,  however,  soon  after  suspended  by  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain. 

War  having  been  declared  in  1812,  the  attention  of  the  Americans 
was  early  directed  to  the  invasion  of  Canada,  and  troops  to  the  num¬ 
ber  of  eight  or  ten  thousand  were  collected  along  the  line  for  this 
purpose.  They  were  distributed  into  three  divisions  ;  the  northwest¬ 
ern  army,  under  General  Harrison ;  the  army  of  the  centre,  under 
General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  at  Lewiston  ;  and  the  army  of  the 
north,  in  the  vicinity  of  Plattsburg,  under  General  Dearborn,  the 
commander-in-chief.  Great  exertions  were  also  made  in  preparing  a 
naval  force  upon  the  lakes,  the  command  of  which  was  intrusted  to 
Commodore  Chauncey.  About  the  1st  of  October,  Commodore  Cliaun- 
cey,  with  a  body  of  seamen,  arrived  at  Sacketts  Harbor ;  several 
schooners  which  had  been  employed  as  traders  on  the  lake  were 
purchased,  and  fitted  out  as  vessels  of  war.  Lieutenant  Elliot  was 
despatched  to  Black  Rock,  to  make  arrangements  there  for  building  a 
naval  force  superior  to  that  of  the  enemy  on  Lake  Erie. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  men  under 
Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  crossed  the  Niagara  river  at  Lewiston,  and 
attacked  the  British  on  the  heights  of  Queenston.  They  succeeded 
in  dislodging  the  enemy,  but  not  being  reinforced  from  the  American 
side,  as  was  expected,  were  afterward  repulsed,  and  compelled  to 
surrender.  During  the  ensuing  winter,  the  operations  of  the  war  on 
the  New  York  frontier  were  mostly  suspended.  Some  skirmishing 
took  place  along  the  St.  Lawrence ;  but  the  opposing  enemies  being 
divided  by  a  barrier  of  ice,  not  sufficiently  strong  to  admit  of  the 
transportation  of  artillery,  no  enterprise  of  importance  was  attempted. 
In  April,  1813,  General  Dearborn  made  dispositions  for  a  descent 
upon  York,  the  capital  of  Upper  Canada.  The  enterprise  was  com¬ 
mitted  to  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  men,  under 
the  command  of  General  Pike,  assisted  by  the  fleet  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Commodore  Chauncey.  General  Pike  was  killed  in  the 
attack,  but  the  place,  with  large  quantities  of  military  stores,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Commodore  Chauncey  having  returned 
with  the  fleet  to  Fort  Niagara,  it  was  immediately  resolved  to  make  a 
descent  upon  Fort  George,  situated  upon  the  opposite  shore.  An 
attack  was  made  on  the  27th  of  May,  and  after  a  short  contest  the 
place  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans. 

During  these  operations  of  the  Americans,  several  enterprises  were 
undertaken  by  the  enemy.  About  the  last  of  May,  a  detachment  of 
about  one  thousand  British  soldiers,  under  Sir  George  Prevost,  made 
an  attack  on  Sacketts  Harbor,  but  were  repulsed  with  considerable 


OUTLINE  HISTORY. 


43 


loss.  On  the  10th  of  September,  Commodore  Perry  captured  the 
British  fleet  on  Lake  Erie.  The  operations  on  Lake  Ontario  were 
less  decisive.  During  the  latter  part  of  summer  and  autumn,  frequent 
skirmishes  took  place,  but  no  important  advantage  was  obtained  by 
either  party.  After  the  victory  on  Lake  Erie,  great  preparations 
were  made  for  the  conquest  of  Montreal.  This  object  was  to  be 
effected  by  two  divisions  under  Generals  Wilkinson  and  Hampton, 
who  were  to  effect  a  junction  on  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  division 
under  Wilkinson  moved  down  the  river  early  in  November ;  on  the 
11th,  a  severe  but  indecisive  engagement  with  the  enemy  took  place 
at  Williamsburg.  General  Hampton  made  a  short  incursion  into 
Canada,  but  no  junction  was  effected.  The  enterprise  against  Mon¬ 
treal  was  abandoned,  and  the  troops  retired  to  winter  quarters  at 
French  Mills,  near  St.  Regis.  Fort  George  was  evacuated  and  blown 
up  by  the  Americans.  In  December,  the  British  crossed  over  above 
Fort  Niagara,  and  took  that  place  by  storm.  After  the  capture  of  the 
fort,  they  proceeded  up  the  river  and  burnt  Lewiston,  Youngstown, 
Manchester,  and  the  Indian  village  of  Tuscarora.  On  the  30th,  a  de¬ 
tachment  of  the  British  crossed  over  near  Black  Rock.  They  were 
feebly  opposed  by  the  militia,  who  soon  gave  way,  and  were  totally 
routed.  Having  set  fire  to  Black  Rock,  the  enemy  advanced  to 
Buffalo,  which  they  laid  in  ashes,  thus  completing  the  desolation  of 
the  Niagara  frontier. 

Early  in  July,  1814,  Fort  Erie  was  taken  by  the  Americans,  and 
during  the  same  month  sanguinary  battles  were  fought  at  Chippewa 
and  Bridgewater.  On  the  11th  of  September,  Sir  George  Prevost, 
with  an  army  of  fourteen  thousand  men,  made  a  descent  upon  Platts- 
burg,  and  after  a  severe  engagement  was  compelled  to  retire  with 
great  loss.  The  British  fleet,  under  Commodore  Downie,  was  cap¬ 
tured  by  Commodore  Macdonough,  on  the  same  day.  The  war 
was  terminated  by  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  signed  by  the  commissioners 
of  both  countries,  December  24th,  1814,  and  ratified  by  the  president 
and  senate  on  the  17th  of  the  following  February. 

On  the  termination  of  the  war,  the  consideration  of  the  great  plan 
for  the  internal  navigation  of  the  state  was  resumed.  During  the 
session  of  1817,  a  memorial  was  presented,  signed  by  upwards  of 
one  hundred  thousand  citizens,  calling  upon  the  legislature  to  pass 
laws  for  the  commencement  and  execution  of  the  proposed  canals. 
An  act  was  accordingly  passed,  and  large  appropriations  made  for 
this  purpose.  The  Erie  and  Champlain  canals  were  immediately 
commenced  and  vigorously  prosecuted.  The  Erie  canal,  from  Al¬ 
bany  to  Buffalo,  was  completed  in  1825,  at  an  expense  of  about  eight 
millions  of  dollars,  and  is  one  of  the  most  magnificent  works  of  the 
kind  ever  constructed.  The  Champlain  canal,  seventy-one  miles  in 
length,  was  completed  in  1823,  at  an  expense  of  8875,000. 

In  1817,  Governor  Tompkins  was  chosen  vice-president  of  the  Uni¬ 
ted  States,  and  De  Witt  Clinton  was  elected  to  succeed  him  as  gov¬ 
ernor  of  New  York.  In  1822.  Mr.  Clinton  declining  a  re-election,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Joseph  C.  Yates.  During  this  year,  (1822,)  the 


44 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


constitution  of  the  state  having  been  revised  by  a  convention  at  Al¬ 
bany  the  preceding  year,  was  accepted  by  the  people  in  January.  In 
1824,  De  Witt  Clinton  was  again  re-elected  to  the  office  of  governor. 
He  died  suddenly,  February  11th,  1828,  and  the  duties  of  his  office 
devolved  on  Nathaniel  Pitcher,  the  lieutenant-governor.  Martin 
Van  Buren  was  next  elected  governor.  He  entered  on  the  duties  of 
the  office  on  the  1st  of  January,  1829,  which,  after  holding  for  three 
months,  he  resigned.  He  was  succeeded  by  Enos  T.  Tbroop,  who 
exercised  the  office  of  governor  from  1829  to  1833,  when  he  was  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  William  L.  Marcy.  Governor  Marcy  was  succeeded  in 
the  office  of  governor  by  William  H.  Seward,  in  1837. 

In  the  year  1839,  an  outbreak  took  place  among  the  tenants  on  the 
Rensselaer  estate.  A  body  of  the  Anti-Renters ,  (as  they  were  call¬ 
ed,)  convened  at  Berne  on  the  fourth  of  July,  and  determined  to 
refuse  the  payment  of  rent.  The  Sheriff,  and  some  other  public  of¬ 
ficers  were  resisted,  and  in  some  instances  barely  escaped  with  their 
lives.  The  Anti-Renters  while  engaged  in  these  proceedings  were 
disguised  as  Indians  and  great  difficulty  was  found  by  the  officers  of 
justice  in  identifying  the  persons  of  these  disturbers  of  the  public 
peace.  A  military  force  was  called  out,  and  the  difficulties  were  ap¬ 
parently  suppressed.  But  the  rebellious  spirit  was  only  smothered 
for  a  short  period.  The  Anti-Renters  soon  met  as  usual,  and  effected 
a  kind  of  organised  resistance  to  the  execution  of  the  laws. 

In  1843,  Gov.  Seward  was  succeeded  in  the  office  of  Governor,  by 
William  C.  Bouck.  During  his  administration,  on  the  20th  of  De¬ 
cember,  two  persons  were  killed  by  the  Anti-Renters  in  Rensselaer 
County.  In  1845,  Gov.  Bouck  was  succeeded  in  office  by  Silas 
Wright.  The  Anti-Renters  still  continued  their  disturbances  and  on 
the  7th  of  August,  1845,  Dep.  Sheriff  Steele  was  murdered  at  Andes, 
while  serving  a  process  of  law.  Gov.  Wright  now  declared  Dela¬ 
ware  County  to  be  in  a  state  of  insurrection  ;  a  military  force  was 
ordered  on  to  the  scene  of  disorder  ;  a  large  number  of  the  Anti-Ren¬ 
ters  were  seized  and  imprisoned.  Two  of  the  ring  leaders  were 
sentenced  to  death  ;  but  subsequently  this  punishment  was  commut¬ 
ed  to  imprisonment  for  life. 

In  June  1846,  a  cohvention  elected  by  the  people  to  revise  and  amend 
the  Constitution  of  the  State,  commenced  its  session  at  Albany,  and  in 
October  following,  reported  one  which  was  adopted  by  the  people  in  No¬ 
vember  by  a  majority  of  more  than  20,000  votes.  In  1847,  John  Young 
was  Governor,  he  was  succeeded  in  office  by  Hamilton  Fish,  who  was 
succeded  in  1851  by  Washington  Hunt.  The  great  work,  the  New  York 
and  Erie  Railroad,  was  completed  at  an  expense  of  about  twenty-three 
millions  of  dollars,  in  185  L 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


4? 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 

Albany  county  was  originally  organized  in  1683;  but  its  limits 
have  since  been  greatly  altered.  In  the  year  1768,  there  were  but  ten 
counties  in  the  state,  viz  :  New  York,  Westchester,  Dutchess,  Orange, 
Ulster,  Albany,  Richmond,  Kings,  Queens,  and  Suffolk.  This  county 
then  embraced  the  whole  of  the  territory  of  New  York  lying  north  of 
Ulster  and  west  of  the  Hudson  river,  as  well  as  all  northward  of  Dutch¬ 
ess  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson.  Its  greatest  length  now  is  28,  and 
greatest  breadth  21  miles. 

The  surface  and  soil  are  very  much  diversified.  Along  the  Hudson 
are  alluvial  flats,  nowhere  exceeding  a  mile  in  width,  susceptible  in 
some  places  of  high  cultivation.  From  these  flats,  the  surface  rises 
abruptly  140  feet,  and  thence  gradually  westward  to  the  mountains. 
On  the  Mohawk,  the  land  is  broken,  rugged,  and  naturally  sterile  ;  on 
the  west  are  the  Helderberg  Hills,  precipitous  and  craggy,  with  a  soil 
of  calcareous  loam.  Centrally  the  county  consists  of  undulating 
grounds  and  plains,  with  small  marshes  and  tracts  of  cold,  wet  sands 
and  clay,  but  which  of  late  years  have  been  greatly  fertilized  by  gyp¬ 
sum,  converting  the  piny  and  sandy  desert  into  fragrant  clover  and 
fruitful  wheat  fields.  Still,  large  tracts  in  this  county  are  unimproved 
and  perhaps  unimprovable  ;  but  the  greater  portion  is  productive  of 
wheat,  of  which  a  large  surplus  is  annually  sent  to  the  New  York 
market.  The  country  is  well  watered  by  streams  which,  flowing 
from  the  highlands,  empty  into  the  Hudson,  affording  valuable  hydrau¬ 
lic  power. 

In  many  parts  of  the  county  both  limestone  and  graywacke  are  ex¬ 
tensively  quarried  for  building  ;  and  many  of  the  locks  on  the  Erie  ca¬ 
nal,  near  Albany,  are  constructed  of  the  former.  Mineral  springs 
abound.  At  the  village  of  Coeymans  is  one  containing  sulphate  of 
magnesia,  muriate  of  lime,  iron,  sulphureted  hydrogen,  and  carbonic 
acid  gas.  Sulphureted  hydrogen  springs  abound  in  every  direction. 
The  county  is  divided  into  10  towns,  viz  : 

Albany  city,  Coeymans,  New  Scotland,  Westerlo. 

Berne,  Guilderland,  Rensselaerville, 

Bethlehem,  Knox,  Watervliet, 

Albany,  the  capital  of  New  York,  and  the  oldest  city,  and  next  to 
Jamestown  the  earliest  European  settlement  within  the  original  thir¬ 
teen  United  States,  lies  in  42°  39'  3"  N.  lat.,  and  3°  12'  E.  Ion.,  from 
Washington.  It  received  its  present  name  in  the  year  1664,  in  honor 
of  James,  duke  of  York  and  Albany,  who  afterward  mounted  the 
throne  of  England  as  James  II.  Its  original  Indian  name  was 
Scagh-negh-ta-da,  signifying  “  the  end  of  the  pine  woods,”  and  this 


40 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


name  for  the  same  reason  was  applied  by  the  aborigines  to  the  site 
of  the  city  of  Schenectady,  where  it  is  yet  retained  with  a  slight  va¬ 
riation  in  the  orthography.  The  Dutch  named  Albany  “  Beaver- 
wyck,”  [i.  e.  Beaver-town,]  and  afterward,  “  Willemstadt.”  It  was 
never  known  as  Fort  Orange,  or  Urania,  as  has  been  asserted ;  but 
the  fort  only  was  called  Fort  Orange.*  Albany  was  probably  never 
visited  by  a  white  man  till  Sept.,  1610,  when  Hendricke  Chrystance, 
who  was  sent  up  the  river  by  Henry  Hudson  to  explore  the  country, 
first  landed  here;  and  as  far  as  can  be  learned  from  tradition  and 
some  documentary  evidence,  he  landed  somewhere  in  the  present 
North  Market  street.  In  that  or  the  succeeding  year,  a  party  of 
the  Dutch  built  a  blockhouse  on  the  north  point  of  Boyd’s  Island,  a 
short  distance  below  the  Albany  ferry. 

This  house  was  erected  for  a  two-fold  purpose  ;  first,  to  open  a 
trade  with  the  Indians  for  furs ;  the  next,  to  secure  themselves  against 
any  sudden  attack  from  the  savages.  But  it  was  soon  demolished, 
for  the  next  spring’s  freshet  and  ice  swept  the  whole  of  it  away. 
This  party  then  chose  a  hill,  subsequently  called  “  Kiddenhooghten,” f 
within  two  miles  of  Albany,  for  the  erection  of  another  trading- 
house.  The  Indians  called  this  hill  “  Ta-wass-a-gun-shee,”  or  the 
“  Look-out  Hill.”  Not  long  afterward,  this  spot  was  abandoned, 
and  a  more  convenient  post  selected.  The  place  last  chosen  was  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  house  now  called  “  Fort  Orange  Hotel,”  in  South 
Market  street.  The  Dutch  there  erected  a  Fort,  “  mounting  eight 
stone  pieces, ”%  and  called  it  “  Fort  Orange.” 

Until  after  the  year  1625,  the  Dutch  did  not  contemplate  making 
any  permanent  settlements  in  this  state.  They  merely  visited  the 
country  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  with  a  view  to  the  fur  trade 
with  the  Indians,  returning  in  the  spring  to  Holland,  or  “Vader- 
landt.”  But  in  that  year,  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  first  en¬ 
tertained  the  idea  of  colonizing  their  newly  discovered  territories  in 
America,  and  accordingly  offered  large  appropriations  of  land  to 
such  families  as  should  “  settle”  in  their  colony  of  New  Netherlands. 
This  soon  brought  many  over,  and  from  that  period  till  1635,  several 
of  our  most  respectable  Dutch  families  arrived ;  among  them  were  the 
ancestors  of  the  Van  Schelluyne,  Quackenboss,  Lansing,  Bleeker, 
Van  Ness,  Pruyn,  Van  Woert,  Wendell,  Van  Eps,  and  Van  Rensse¬ 
laer  families. 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  stone  or  brick  building  was  erected 
here  (the  fort  excepted)  until  the  year  1647,  when,  according  to 


*For  most  of  the  statements  given  respecting  the  early  history  of  Albany,  the  authors 
are  indebted  to  the  “  Historical  Reminiscences,”  published  in  the  American  Journal,  1835- 
t  Kiddenhooghten ,  or  Kidds-heights  or  hill,  received  its  name  about  the  year  1701;  and, 
according  to  tradition,  in  memory  of  the  pirate  Kidd,  so  celebrated  “  in  song  and  story,” 
who  it  is  supposed  concealed  much  of  his  ill-gotten  treasure  in  the  vicinity.  It  is,  however, 
doubted  whether  Kidd  ascended  the  Hudson  as  far  as  Albany. 

1  According  to  Mr.  Vander  Kempt,  the  translator  of  our  Dutch  records,  they  were  called 
“  Stien-gestucken,”  or  stone  pieces,  because  they  were  loaded  with  stone  instead  of  iron 
ball.  They  were  formed  of  long  and  strong  iron  bars,  longitudinally  laid,  and  bound  with 
iron  hoops,  and  were  of  immense  caliber. 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


47 


a  “letter  from  Commissary  De  la  Montagnie”  to  the  Dutch  gov¬ 
ernor  at  New  Amsterdam,  (New  York,)  a  stone  building  was  erected 
near  the  fort,  and  he  complains  of  the  “  enormous  libations”  upon 
the  occasion  of  celebrating  its  completion :  “  No  less”  (he  says) 
“than  8  ankers  (128  gallons)  of  brandy  were  consumed.” 

About  100  years  since,  Albany  was  protected  against  sudden  ir¬ 
ruptions  from  the  Indians  by  the  erection  of  palisades,*  part  of  the 
remains  of  which  were  visible  within  the  last  forty  years.  Barrack 
(now  Chapel)  street,  was  the  principal  place  for  business.  The  gov¬ 
ernment  of  the  city  was  extremely  rigid,  and  often  cruel ;  it  bore 
the  character  more  of  a  military  despotism  than  that  of  a  civil  po¬ 
lice  ;  heavy  penalties  were  imposed  for  the  least  infraction  of  the 
laws  regulating  the  trade  with  the  Indians,  and  many  families  conse¬ 
quently  ruined.  This  severity  drove  some  of  the  “traders”  to  the 
Schenectady  flats,  where  they  intercepted  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  fur  on  its  way  to  Albany,  and  which  occasioned  for  many  years 
the  most  bitter  animosities  between  the  inhabitants  of  both  places. 
The  circulating  medium  then  in  use  consisted  principally  of  sewant , 
or  wampum. 

Ministers  of  the  reformed  religion  were  regularly  sent  out  from 
Holland  to  the  colony.  In  1657,  the  Rev.  Gideon  Schaats  sailed 
from  Amsterdam  for  this  colony,  and  about  the  same  time  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company  wrote  a  letter,  stating  that  they  would  send  a 
bell  and  a  pulpit,  “  for  the  inhabitants  of  Fort  Orange,  and  of  the  vil¬ 
lage  of  Beaverwick,  for  their  newly  constructed  little  church.”  In 


Ancient  Butch  Church,  Albany. 

1715,  this  church  became  too  small  for  the  congregation,  and  the 
proprietors  adopted  a  singular  mode  of  enlarging  it.  Beyond  and 
on  every  side  of  the  ancient  building,  they  sunk  a  new  stone  wall ; 


*  These  palisades  consisted  of  large  pieces  of  timber  in  close  contact  with  each  other, 
driven  endwise  into  the  ground,  and  gates  or  openings  were  made  at  suitable  intervals, 
which  were  closed  at  night. 


48 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


on  this  foundation  they  raised  a  larger  structure.  Having  thus  com¬ 
pletely  enclosed  the  first  church,  they  took  it  down  and  removed  the 
whole,  with  only  the  loss  of  public  worship  for  three  sabbaths.  The 
new  edifice,  which  had  been  constructed  in  this  manner,  was  one 
story  high,  of  Gothic  appearance,  having  its  windows  richly  orna¬ 
mented  with  coats  of  arms.  This  church,  of  which  the  preceding  en¬ 
graving  is  a  representation,  stood  about  ninety-two  years  in  the  open 
area  formed  by  the  angle  of  State,  Market,  and  Court  streets.  It 
was  taken  down  in  1806,  and  the  stone  of  which  it  was  constructed 
was  used  in  the  erection  of  the  South  Dutch  Church,  between  Hud¬ 
son  and  Beaver  streets.  Fort  Orange,  on  the  river  bank,  appears  to 
have  been  but  a  slight  fortification.  In  1639,  a  complaint  was 
made  by  the  commandant  of  the  fort  to  Gov.  Stuyvesant,  stating 
“  that  the  fort  was  in  a  miserable  state  of  decay,  and  that  the  hogs 
had  destroyed  a  part  of  it”  A  later  work  built  of  stone  was  erected 
on  the  river  hill,  at  the  west  end  of  State-street.  The  English  Church 
was  just  below  it,  at  the  west  end  of  a  market. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  government  of  Beaverwick,  or  Albany, 
while  under  the  Dutch  rule  was  rigid  and  arbitrary.  It  was  in  the 
hands  of  three  or  more  “  commissaries,”  appointed  by  the  governor 
and  council,  who  usually  held  their  offices  for  one  year.  Without  the 
permission  of  the  commissaries,  no  one  was  allowed  to  build  houses, 
buy  or  sell,  or  to  establish  manufactories,  stores,  shops,  taverns,  or 
beer-houses.  In  1647,  Jan  La  Battie  applied  for  permission  “to 
build  a  brewery,”  which  was  granted  “on  his  paying  yearly  six  beav¬ 
ers,  a  duty  of  perhaps  of  about  eighty  dollars.  The  duties  were 
generally  farmed  out,  or  sold  at  auction ;  and  during  this  year  and 
several  years  afterward,  the  duties  on  beer  in  Beaverwick  exceeded 
eight  hundred  dollars.  The  fines  imposed  for  the  violation  of  ordi¬ 
nances  were  generally  distributed  in  the  sentence  in  this  way :  “  one 
third  to  the  church,  one  third  to  the  public,  and  one  third  to  the 
attorney-general.” 

“  Professor  Kalm,  who  visited  Albany  in  1749,  has  left  us  some  facts.  All  the  people 
then  understood  Dutch.  All  the  houses  stood  gable  end  to  the  street ;  the  ends  were  of 
brick,  and  the  side  walls  of  planks  or  logs.  The  gutters  on  the  roofs  went  out  almost  to 
the  middle  of  the  street,  greatly  annoying  travellers  in  their  discharge.  At  the  stoopes 
(porches)  the  people  spent  much  of  their  time,  especially  on  the  shady  side ;  and  in  the 
evenings  they  were  filled  with  both  sexes.  The  streets  were  dirty  by  reason  of  the  cattle 
possessing  their  free  use  during  the  summer  nights.  They  had  no  knowledge  of  stoves, 
and  their  chimnies  were  so  wide  that  one  could  drive  through  them  with  a  carl  and  horses. 
Many  people  still  made  wampum  to  sell  to  Indians  and  traders.  Dutch  manners  every, 
where  prevailed ;  but  their  dress  in  general  was  after  the  English  form.  They  were  re¬ 
garded  as  close  in  traffic ;  were  very  frugal  in  their  house  economy  and  diet.  Their 
women  were  over-nice  in  cleanliness,  scouring  floors  and  kitchen  utensils  several  times  a 
week  ;  rising  very  early  and  going  to  sleep  very  late.  Their  servants  were  chiefly  negroes. 
Their  breakfast  was  tea  without  milk,  using  sugar  by  putting  a  small  bit  into  the  mouth. 
Their  dinner  was  buttermilk  and  bread ;  and  if  to  that  they  added  sugar,  it  was  deemed 
delicious.” — Watson's  Sketches  of  Olden  Times  in  New  York. 

Albany  was  incorporated  as  a  city,  under  Governor  Dongan’s 
administration,  in  1686.  The  charter  limits  were  one  mile  on  the 
river,  and  extended  northwest  to  the  north  line  of  the  manor  of  Rens¬ 
selaer,  and  retaining  that  width  thirteen  and  a  half  miles  :  the  fee  simple 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


49 


of  which  was  vested  in  the  corporation.  Its  bounds  were  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  part  of  the  small  town  of  Colonie,  in  1815,  which 
now  forms  the  fifth  ward.  The  government  of  the  city  is  now  lodged 
in  a  mayor,  recorder,  ten  aldermen,  and  ten  assistant  aldermen,  who 
are  annually  elected  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  May.  The  plat  on  which 
the  city  is  built  is  uneven.  A  low  alluvial  flat  extends  along  the  river 
from  fifteen  to  one  hundred  rods  wide ;  west  of  which  rises  abruptly 
a  hill  of  clay  and  sand,  in  the  first  half  mile  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  feet,  and  in  the  next  about  sixty-seven  feet  high ;  from  this 
summit  the  country  extends  in  nearly  an  even  plain  to  Schenectady. 

The  position  of  Albany,  necessarily  makes  it  a  great  thoroughfare. 
The  completion  of  the  canals  has  given  it  a  great  commercial  im¬ 
portance,  making  it  the  entrepot  for  a  great  proportion  of  the  pro¬ 
ducts  destined  for  the  New  York  market.  To  accommodate  this 
trade,  a  basin  has  been  constructed  by  the  citizens  on  the  river,  in 
which  all  the  northern  and  western  canal  boats  are  received.  It 
consists  of  part  of  the  river  included  between  the  shore  and  a  pier 
eighty  feet  wide,  and  four  thousand  three  hundred  feet  long.  The 
pier  contains  about  eight  acres,  on  which  stores  have  been  built,  and 
where  immense  quantities  of  lumber  and  other  articles  of  trade  are 
deposited.  The  basin  has  an  area  of  thirty-two  acres. 


State  and  City  Halls,  Albany. 


The  above  is  a  west  view  of  the  State  and  City  Halls,  the  fronts 
of  which  face  the  Academy  Park,  a  small  section  of  which  appears 
on  the  left.  The  building  on  the  right  is  the  City  Hall,  constructed 
of  white  marble,  hewed  out  by  the  state  prisoners,  at  Sing  Sing,  and 
distinguished  above  all  other  edifices  in  this  country  by  its  gilded 
dome,  like  the  Invalides  at  Paris.  It  was  completed  in  December,  1832. 
In  the  rotunda  of  this  building  there  is  a  statue  of  Hamilton,  a  copy 
of  that  by  Greenough,  in  the  Merchants’  Exchange,  destroyed  by  the 
great  fire  in  New  York,  in  1835.  There  are  also  two  designs  in  bass- 
relief,  executed  by  W.  Coffee,  at  the  cost  of  the  citizens,  commemora¬ 
tive  of  De  Witt  Clinton  and  Sir  Walter  Scott.  A  bust  of  each  is 

7 


50 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


introduced  in  the  designs ;  that  of  Clinton  is  surrounded  by  figures, 
representing  Commerce,  Agriculture,  Science,  a  canal  lock,  &c.  The 
bust  of  Scott  is  accompanied  with  a  female  figure,  presenting  a  volume 
inscribed  “Marmion;”  the  words  “Minstrel”  and  “  Waverly”  appear 
on  a  scroll  below  ;  the  Genius  of  History,  Fame,  and  the  emblems  of 
death  and  immortality,  are  also  introduced.  The  New  State  Hall,  par¬ 
tially  seen  on  the  left,  was  commenced  in  1835.  It  covers  an  area  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  by  eighty-eight  feet,  and  is  sixty-five  feet 
in  height.  The  materials  of  the  building  are  brick  and  stone ;  the 
exterior  faced  with  marble,  from  Mount  Pleasant ;  the  ceilings  are 
arched  with  brick,  and  the  whole  fire-proof.  This  edifice  contains 
the  offices  of  the  secretary  of  state,  comptroller,  treasurer,  attorney- 
general,  surveyor-general,  &c. 


East  View  of  the  Capitol  at  Albany. 


T,he  above  is  an  eastern  view  of  the  capitol,  situated  at  the  head 
of  State-street,  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
river.  It  is  substantially  built  of  stone,  at  an  expense  of  $120,000,  of 
which  the  city  corporation  paid  $34,000.  The  hall  of  the  repre¬ 
sentatives  and  the  senate  chamber,  each  contain  full  length  portraits 
of  Washington,  and  of  several  governors  of  the  state.  The  Academy 
is  on  the  north  side  of  the  public  square ;  is  a  fine  building,  con¬ 
structed  of  Nyac  stone,  three  stories  high  and  ninety  feet  front ; 
cost,  at  the  city  charge,  $90,000,  exclusive  of  the  site  and  some  im¬ 
portant  donations.  The  Albany  Institute  has  commodious  apartments 
in  the  Academy.  Its  library  contains  about  two  thousand  volumes, 
and  its  museum  more  than  ten  thousand  specimens  in  geology, 
mineralogy,  botany,  coins,  engravings,  casts,  &c.  It  publishes  its 
transactions  Irom  time  to  time,  and  has  a  high  reputation  abroad. 
The  Albany  Female  Academy,  is  a  beautiful  building,  erected  by  a 
company  incorporated  February,  1821  ;  this  institution  has  a  high 
reputation.  The  Exchange,  Stanwix  Hall,  the  Museum,  and  several 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


51 


of  the  churches,  are  fine  buildings.  The  Atheneum  was  established 
in  1827  ;  the  Albany  Library,  established  in  1792,  and  now  connected 
with  the  Atheneum,  has  about  nine  thousand  volumes. 

There  are  six  banks,  viz  : — Bank  of  Albany,  incorporated  in  1792; 
capital,  $240,000.  New  York  State  Bank,  incorporated  1803  ;  capi¬ 
tal,  $369,600.  Mechanics  and  Farmers’ Bank,  incorporated  1811; 
capital,  $442,000.  Commercial  Bank,  incorporated  1825  ;  capital, 
$300,000.  Canal  Bank,  incorporated  1829;  capital,  $300,000.  Al¬ 
bany  City  Bank,  incorporated  1834  ;  capital,  $500,000.  The  Albany 
Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1820. 

There  are  30  churches  :  among  which  are  5  Presbyterian;  3  Dutch 
Reformed  ;  4  Methodist  Episcopal ;  1  Protestant  Methodist ;  1  Color¬ 
ed  do.  ;  3  Baptist ;  1  Colored  do. ;  2  Catholic  ;  3  Episcopalian  ;  1 
Friends;  1  Universalist.  Population  50,771.  Albany  is  distant  from 
New  York  148  miles  ;  from  Washington  city,  376  ;  Philadelphia, 
237 ;  Boston,  171  ;  Hartford,  92  ;  Montreal,  247  ;  Quebec,  394  ; 
Detroit,  664  ;  Buffalo  via  Utica  by  land,  296  ;  via  Cherry  Valley,  282  ; 
by  the  canal,  363. 

Upon  the  northern  bounds  of  the  city  is  the  mansion  house  of  the 
late  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  Esq.,  the  patroon  of  the  manor  of  Rens- 
selaerwyck.  It  is  almost  entirely  surrounded  by  a  thick  forest  of  trees, 
giving  it  an  unusually  retired  aspect.  “  The  name  of  this  gentleman 
can  scarcely  be  mentioned  without  a  passing  tribute  to  his  merit. 
Blessed  with  great  wealth,  which  so  frequently  leads  to  selfish  egotism 
and  exclusiveness,  he  has  through  life  been  distinguished  as  an  active 
and  efficient  public  man ;  bestowing  his  personal  services  and  his  for¬ 
tune,  to  the  encouragement  of  every  species  of  improvement  in  litera¬ 
ture,  science,  and  art.  His  name,  as  a  benefactor,  is  associated  with 
most  of  the  charitable  and  scientific  institutions  of  the  state  ;  and  he 
has  perhaps  done  more  than  any  other  citizen  to  foster  agriculture 
and  internal  improvements.” 

Rensselaerville  is  a  village  of  about  1,000  inhabitants,  150  houses, 
4  churches,  and  7  stores,  24  miles  SW.  of  Albany.  Coeymans  vil¬ 
lage,  12  miles  below  Albany,  contains  2  churches,  100  dwellings,  and 
about  700  inhabitants.  There  are  several  extensive  brick  yards  in  this 
place,  which  has  a  convenient  steamboat  landing. 

The  flourishing  manufacturing  village  of  Cahoes  is  situated  near 
the  falls,  on  the  bank  of  the  Mohawk,  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
junction  of  the  Erie  and  Champlain  canals.  The  water-power  devel¬ 
oped  here  is  very  great,  and  the  advantages  of  this  position  for  manu¬ 
facturers  are  among  the  best  in  the  state. 

“  The  Cahoes  Falls,  in  full  view  of  the  village,  and  seen  with  special  advantage  from 
the  bridge,  have  a  total  descent  of  78  feet,  and  a  perpendicular  pitch  of  about  40.  Above 
the  cataract,  the  bank  on  the  left  has  nearly  100  feet  perpendicular  elevation,  and  below, 
170  feet.  On  the  right  above  the  pitch,  the  bank  is  low ;  but  below  it,  the  shore  is  be¬ 
tween  80  and  90  feet  high  ;  below  the  falls  the  river  runs  in  a  deep,  rocky,  and  broken 
bed  for  a  short  distance,  expanded  into  the  placid  pool  formed  by  the  state  dam,  and  glides 
over  that  dam  in  one  lovely  sheet  of  about  5  of  a  mile  in  length,  whose  gentle  fall  of  7 
feet  makes  a  pleasant  contrast  with  the  great  cataract  above.  In  floods,  the  whole  bed 
at  the  latter  is  covered  with  water,  which  descends  in  one  unbroken  torrent  about  900  feet 
vide.  At  such  seasons,  the  high  rocky  barriers  which  confine  the  stream,  the  roar  of  the 


52 


ALBANY  COUNTY. 


cataract,  the  dashing  of  the  troubled  waters  as  they  descend  the  rapids,  and  the  striking 
assimilation  of  the  torrent  with  the  wilderness  above,  give  to  the  scene  unusual  sub¬ 
limity.” 

West  Troy,  incorporated  in  1836,  comprising  Gibbonsville,  Wa- 
tervliet,  and  Port  Schuyler,  is  situated  upon  the  Hudson,  opposite 
Troy.  A  communication  is  constantly  kept  up  with  it  by  ferries,  and 
a  fine  macadamized  road  6  miles  in  length  along  the  river  connects  it 
with  Albany.  A  valuable  water-powrer  is  derived  from  the  Junction 
canal,  and  used  at  the  arsenal  and  other  works.  The  village  has,  by 
the  census  of  1840,  a  population  of  4,607 ;  and  enjoying  all  the  ad¬ 
vantages  of  navigation  possessed  by  Troy,  grows  rapidly.  The  Uni¬ 
ted  States  arsenal,  located  here,  comprises  several  extensive  buildings 
of  stone  and  brick,  in  which  there  are  a  large  quantity  of  arms,  with 
workshops  for  their  repair.  Among  the  cannon  are  some  pieces 
taken  at  Saratoga  and  at  Yorktown ;  others,  presented  to  the  United 
States  by  Louis  XVI.,  with  some  cast  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia 
during  the  revolution.  A  suburb  of  Troy,  called  North  Troy,  has  been 
laid  out  upon  Tibbet’s  island,  upon  which  is  the  railroad  depot. 

At  Niskayuna  there  is  a  small  society  of  Shakers,  which  was 
established  here  in  September,  1776,  by  Ann  Lee.  They  own  2,000 
acres  of  good  land,  well  cultivated,  and  divided  into  four  farms,  on 
each  of  which  is  a  family,  the  whole  amounting  to  about  80  persons 
of  both  sexes  and  all  ages.  From  a  very  small  beginning,  the  society 
has  grown  into  several  communities,  the  largest  of  which  is  established 
at  New  Lebanon,  Columbia  county. 

Ann  Lee,  or  “  Mother  Annf  (as  she  is  usually  called,)  was  born 
at  Manchester,  England.  About  the  year  1758,  she  joined  herself  to 
the  society  of  Shakers,  so  called  from  the  singular  tremblings  and 
shakings  with  which  these  people  were  affected  at  their  religious 
meetings.  According  to  the  account  given  by  her  biographer,  she 
passed  through  great  trial  and  distress  of  mind  for  the  space  of  nine 
years,  during  which  period  she  had  many  visions  and  revelations. 
She  set  herself  up  as  a  religious  teacher,  and  soon  collected  a  num¬ 
ber  of  followers,  who  believed  her  to  be  the  “  elect  lady,”  spoken 
of  in  the  2d  of  John.  After  having  been  imprisoned  in  England  and 
confined  in  a  madhouse,  she  set  sail  for  America,  in  the  spring  of 
1774,  with  a  number  of  her  followers  ;  particularly,  Abraham  Stan¬ 
ley,  her  husband,  William  Lee,  her  brother,  James  Whitaker,  and 
John  Hocknell ;  and  arrived  at  New  York  the  following  August.  It 
appears  that  Mother  Ann  remained  in  New  York  nearly  two  years, 
and  then  went  to  Albany,  and  thence,  in  the  following  September,  to 
Niskayuna.  In  1781,  she  began  a  progress  through  various  parts  of 
the  country,  particularly  of  New  England,  which  lasted,  we  are  told, 
about  two  years  and  four  months.  She  died  in  1784. 


ALLEGANY  COUNTY. 


53 


ALLEGANY  COUNTY. 


Allegany  county  was  taken  from  Genesee  in  1806.  It  is  44 
miles  long,  28  wide,  being  part  of  the  tract  ceded  to  Massachusetts. 
The  two  western  tiers  of  towns  are  within  the  Holland  Land  Com¬ 
pany’s  purchase.  The  Genesee  river  flows  through  the  county  by  a 
deep  channel,  depressed  from  five  hundred  to  eight  hundred  feet  below 
the  higher  hills.  By  an  act  passed  in  1828,  this  river  was  declared 
a  public  highway  from  Rochester  to  the  Pennsylvania  line.  The  soil 
is  of  a  good  quality,  there  being  extensive  tracts  of  alluvion,  and  the 
uplands  embrace  a  variety.  The  northern  part  is  best  for  grain,  but 
as  a  whole  it  is  better  for  grazing.  Wheat  and  corn  thrive  well  in 
the  valley  and  on  the  river  flats.  Of  the  former,  twenty-five  bushels 
an  acre  are  an  average  crop,  and  of  the  latter  forty.  On  the  upland, 
corn,  rye,  potatoes,  oats,  and  buckwheat,  are  productive  crops.  The 
growth  of  forest  trees  being  heavy,  lumbering  is  carried  on  exten¬ 
sively.  The  Rochester  and  Olean  canal,  chartered  in  1836,  and  now 
constructing,  enters  the  county  at  Portage  and  terminates  at  Olean,  in 
the  adjoining  county  of  Cattaraugus.  The  line  of  the  Erie  railroad 
also  passes  through  it.  The  county  contains  30  towns,  viz., 


Alfred, 

Allen, 

Almond, 

Amity, 

Andover, 

Angelica, 

Belfast, 

Birdsall, 


Bolivar, 

Burns, 

Caneadea, 

Centerville, 

Clarksville, 

Cuba, 

Eagle, 

Friendship, 


Genesee, 

Granger, 

Grove, 

Hume, 

Independence, 
New  Hudson, 
Nunda, 

Ossian, 


Pike, 

Portage, 

Rushford, 

Scio, 

West  Almond, 
Wirt. 


Angelica  village,  52  miles  S.  from  Batavia,  and  250  W.  from  Albany, 
is  the  county  seat.  The  village  contains  about  130  dwellings,  4 
churches,  a  bank,  and  2  printing  offices.  About  three  miles  SW.  of 
the  village  is  the  seat  of  Philip  Church,  Esq.,  the  first  settler  of  the 
county  in  1804.  The  town  and  village  are  named  after  his  mother, 
Mrs.  Angelica  Church,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler. 

The  village  of  Nunda  Valley,  about  18  miles  NE.  from  Angelica, 
on  the  line  of  the  Genesee  Valley  canal,  contains  upwards  of  100 
dwellings,  3  churches,  and  10  stores.  This  place  was  first  settled 
about  1826,  and  is  located  in  a  fertile  country.  Cuba  village,  about 
15  miles  SW.  of  Angelica,  contains  about  100  dwellings.  Portage- 
ville,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Genesee,  near  the  “  Falls,”  contains  about 
100  dwellings,  4  churches,  and  8  or  10  stores,  a  number  of  mills,  &c. 
This  place  is  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gorge  of  the  Genesee, 
celebrated  for  its  wild  grandeur,  also  for  the  exhibition  of  enterprise 
and  skill  in  the  construction  of  a  tunnel  for  the  canal  through  the  solid 
rock,  which  here  bounds  <the  valley  of  the  Genesee.  “  There  are 
three  distinct  falls  on  the  river,  respectively  sixty,  ninety,  and  one 
hundred  and  ten  feet  high,  within  the  space  of  two  miles,  each  differ- 


54 


ALLEGANY  COUNTY. 


ing  in  character,  and  each  having  peculiar  beauties.  Although  the 
cascades  are  highly  admirable,  they  are  almost  disregarded  in  ihe 
wonder  and  fear  caused  by  the  stupendous  perpendicular  walls  of  the 
river,  rising  to  four  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  extending  along  the 
stream  for  three  miles,  with  almost  as  much  regularity  as  if  constructed 
by  art.  To  this  great  depth  the  river  has  worn  its  bed  in  the  solid 
rock,  in  turns  as  short  and  graceful,  as  if  winding  through  the  softest 
meadow.” 


Pass  of  the  Genesee  at  Portage  Falls. 

The  above  is  a  representation  of  the  gorge,  at  that  point  where  the 
river,  coming  from  the  south,  takes  a  sudden  and  abrupt  bend  to  the 
east.  It  is  situated  below  the  middle  and  upper  falls  ;  both  of  which 
are  in  full  sight  from  near  this  point.  The  spectator  is  supposed  to 
be  standing  in  the  valley,  and  looking  eastwardly  in  the  direction  of 
the  lower  falls,  which  are  about  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.  Imme¬ 
diately  in  front  rise  massy,  perpendicular  rocks,  to  the  height  of  four 
hundred  feet,  their  summits'  crowned  with  gigantic  pines  and  hem- 


ALLEGANY  COUNTY. 


55 


locks,  the  aged  sentinels  of  an  hundred  years.  In  the  perspective, 
the  river  meanders  along  its  rocky  bed,  until  finally  lost  to  the  view 
behind  projecting  precipices.  Far  in  the  distant  horizon  is  seen  the 
hills  of  the  Cashaqua,  and  to  the  right  “  Hornby  Lodge,”  standing  on 
the  verge  of  the  precipice,  resembling  an  ancient  chateau ;  its  rude, 
gothic  architecture  in  keeping  with  the  wildness  of  the  situation. 
The  sketch  for  the  above  engraving  was  taken  at  the  close  of  the 
year.  Winter  had  thrown  her  snowy  mantle  upon  the  face  of  na¬ 
ture.  The  huge  evergreens  and  naked  limbs  of  the  other  forest  trees 
were  enveloped  in  their  drapery  of  white  ;  immense  icicles  hung 
from  the  rocks  ;  while  the  blue  of  the  distant  hills,  contrasting  with 
the  icy  splendor  and  sublimity  of  the  foreground,  combined  to  render 
it  a  scene  of  indescribable  grandeur.  Some  years  since,  a  party  of 
surveyors  cut  down  an  immense  pine,  standing  on  the  verge  of  the 
precipice.  It  turned  one  somerset  in  its  descent,  and  struck  its  butt 
perpendicularly  upon  the  rocky  bottom  of  the  gorge.  Every  limb 
fell  to  the  earth  with  the  shock.  It  stood  for  a  moment,  a  tall,  limb¬ 
less  trunk,  quivered,  and  fell  with  a  crash. 

The  tunnel,  eleven  hundred  and  eighty  feet  in  length,  to  which  al¬ 
lusion  has  been  made,  commences  at  a  point  on  the  southern  side  of 
the  gorge,  about  six  hundred  feet  east  of  the  lodge,  and  has  a  south¬ 
western  termination  near  the  middle  falls.  The  following  description 
of  this  work,  and  the  “  lodge,”  is  from  an  interesting  series  of  letters, 
entitled  “  Midsummer  Rambles,”  published  in  the  New  York  Com¬ 
mercial  Advertiser  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1840.  “  The  trunk 
of  the  tunnel  is  to  be  twenty-seven  feet  wide  and  twenty  feet  high. 
Fortunately,  the  character  of  the  rock  (sandstone)  is  favorable  to  the 
progress  of  the  work.  The  contractor  for  this  section  is  Elisha 
Johnson,  Esq.,  formerly  mayor  of  Rochester,  and  one  of  its  most 
enterprising  citizens.  Mr.  Johnson  commenced  this  vast  excavation 
last  year,  first  running  a  shaft  or  ‘  heading’  five  and  a  half  feet  near¬ 
est  the  roof,  and  of  the  entire  width  required,  through  the  whole  length 
of  the  tunnel.  One  of  the  lateral  drifts,  for  the  introduction  of  air 
and  light  from  the  river  brink  to  the  main  tunnel,  had  also  been  pre¬ 
viously  completed,”  the  opening  to  which  is  seen  in  the  engraving 
on  the  rock  in  front  of  the  “  Lodge.” 

“  The  entire  excavation  of  this  tunnel,  including  the  gallery,  shaft, 
and  lateral  drifts,  will  amount  to  more  than  twenty-five  thousand  cubic 
yards,  for  which  the  price  paid  is  four  dollars  per  yard.  This,  how¬ 
ever,  will  not,  by  a  great  amount,  cover  the  entire  cost  of  the  tunnel ; 
for  since  the  excavation  has  been  commenced,  such  is  the  character 
of  the  rock — thrown  together  apparently  by  nature  in  loose  masses 
and  blocks — that  it  now  appears  that  the  entire  roof  and  sides  of  the 
tunnel  will  require  arching  with  solid  mason  work.  Indeed,  tempo¬ 
rary  arches  of  wood  have  been  found  necessary  during  the  progress 
of  almost  every  successive  yard  of  the  work.  It  is  by  far  the  great¬ 
est  undertaking  of  the  kind  that  has  been  attempted  in  our  country. 

“  Perceiving,  at  the  outset,  that  his  contract  would  require  a  long 
time  for  its  completion,  Mr.  Johnson,  whose  daily  presence  was 


56 


BROOME  COUNTY. 


necessary,  wisely  determined  to  surround  himself  by  his  family.  He 
accordingly  prepared  ‘  a  lodge’  for  them  in  the  ‘  wilderness.’  The  site 
selected  is  wild  and  picturesque  in  a  high  degree.  It  stands  upon  a 
small  plain  or  table,  upon  the  highest  verge  of  the  precipitous  bank  of 
the  river  so  often  adverted  to,  a  few  yards  only  from  the  edge,  which 
juts  out,  and  almost  impends  over  the  abyss,  threatening  to  descend 
and  overwhelm  all  that  may  be  below.  The  site  of  the  building  is 
near  the  southwestern  entrance  of  the  tunnel.  Facing  that  direction,  a 
full  view  is  presented  of  the  chasm  of  the  river,  and  the  upper  and  mid¬ 
dle  falls  ;  the  roar  of  which  is  incessant,  and  the  ascending  clouds  of 
vapor  of  which  form  objects  of  ever-varying  and  incessant  interest  and 
beauty.  ‘  Hornby  Lodge ’  is  the  name  of  Mr.  Johnson’s  castle,  and  the 
grounds  around  it — purposely  kept  as  wild  as  nature  herself  has  made 
them — are  called  ‘  Tunnel  Park .’ 


BROOME  COUNTY. 

Broome  county,  named  after  Lieut.  Gov.  Broome,  was  taken  from 
Tioga  in  1806.  Length,  on  the  Pennsylvania  line,  37  miles  ;  breadth, 
on  the  Tioga  boundary  28,  on  the  Delaware  13,  and  midway  17  miles. 
Centrally  distant  from  New  York,  northwest,  252,  and  from  Albany, 
southwest,  145  miles.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  broken  and 
mountainous.  Among  its  principal  elevations  are  the  Cookquago,  the 
Oquago,  and  the  Randolph  mountains.  The  valleys  bordering  on  its 
numerous  streams  are  extensive  and  fertile,  producing  large  quantities 
of  wheat.  The  soil  is  generally  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  the 
culture  of  grain.  Fruit  succeeds  well.  The  inhabitants  are  principally 
farmers,  and  its  agriculture  is  respectable.  The  Chenango  canal  en¬ 
ters  the  county  on  the  north,  follows  down  the  valley  of  the  Chenango 
river,  and  enters  the  Susquehannah  river  at  Binghamton.  The  line  of 
the  Erie  railroad  passes  through  the  county.  The  county  is  divided 
into  1 1  towns,  viz.  : 

Barker,  Conklin,  Sandford,  Vestal, 

Chenango,  Lisle,  Triangle,  Windsor. 

Colesville,  Nanticoke,  Union, 

The  village  of  Binghamton,  formerly  called  Chenango  Point ,  the 
shire  village  of  the  county,  was  incorporated  in  1813,  1824,  and  1834. 
It  derived  its  present  name  from  William  Bingham,  a  munificent  bene¬ 
factor  of  the  village  in  its  infant  state.  This  gentleman  was  possessed 
of  a  large  estate,  and  was  the  proprietor  of  a  large  patent  of  land  lying 
on  both  sides  of  the  Susquehannah,  including  the  site  of  the  village. 
Mr.  Bingham  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to  this  country  when 
a  young  man,  and  went  into  the  mercantile  business  in  Philadelphia. 
He  was  a  member  of  congress  for  some  years  while  it  held  its  sessions 
at  Philadelphia.  His  two  daughters  married,  the  one  Alexander,  the 
other  Henry  Baring,  two  noted  bankers  in  London.  Mr.  Bingham 
died  in  London  in  1804. 


BROOME  COUNTY, 


57 


Western  View  of  Binghamton. 

The  above  shows  the  appearance  of  the  village  as  it  is  entered 
from  the  west  side  of  Chenango  river,  by  the  red  bridge ,  (so  called,) 
which  is  600  feet  long.  The  village  is  principally  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Chenango,  and  contains  about  500  houses,  50  stores,  and  3,000 
inhabitants.  There  are  six  churches,  viz :  1  Episcopal,  2  Methodist, 
1  Presbyterian,  1  Congregational,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Catholic.  There 
are  two  female  seminaries,  a  large  school  for  boys,  two  printing- 
offices,  the  courthouse  and  prison  ;  two  banks — the  Broome  County 
Bank  incorporated  1831,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  the  Bing¬ 
hamton  Bank,  which  commenced  its  operations  in  1839,  with  a  capital 
of  $100,000,  and  the  privilege  of  extending  it  to  one  million.  The 
village  of  Binghamton  is  150  miles  from  Albany,  90  from  Utica,  40 
from  Norwich,  22  from  Owego,  and  7  from  the  Pennsylvania  line. 
The  great  medium  of  transportation  to  the  place  is  by  the  Chenango 
canal.  This  canal,  which  terminates  at  Binghamton  and  Utica,  is 
95  miles  long,  46  feet  wide,  and  4\  deep.  The  number  of  locks  in 
the  whole  route  is  105.  The  canal  was  commenced  in  1834  and 
completed  in  1837,  and  cost  nearly  two  millions  of  dollars. 

The  tract  of  country  in  which  Binghamton  is  situated,  became 
first  known  to  the  whites  by  the  expedition  of  Gen.  Sullivan  against 
the  Indians  in  1779.  Upon  the  site  of  Binghamton,  a  brigade  of 
American  troops  under  the  command  of  Gen.  James  Clinton,  the 
father  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  encamped  for  one  or  two  nights  on  their 
way  to  join  the  main  body  under  Sullivan,  then  penetrating  westward. 
The  first  white  man  who  made  a  permanent  settlement  in  what  is 
claimed  for  the  village  vicinity,  was  Capt.  Joseph  Leonard,  who  was 
originally  from  Plymouth,  Massachusetts.  He  first  emigrated  to 
Wyoming,  Pennsylvania.  He  owned  a  farm  in  that  place,  and  was 
under  arms  there  at  the  time  of  the  massacre,  though  not  on  the  field 
of  action.  He  moved  from  Wyoming  in  1787,  with  a  young  wife  and 
two  little  children.  His  wife  and  children  were  put  on  board  a 

8 


58 


BROOME  COUNTY. 


canoe,  with  what  goods  he  brought  up,  and  the  canoe  rowed  by  a  hired 
man  ;  while  he  himself  went  up  on  land  with  two  horses,  keeping  the 
shore,  and  regulating  his  progress  by  that  of  his  family  on  the  river. 
A  Capt.  Baldwin,  who  settled  on  the  Chemung  river,  moved  up  at  the 
same  time  in  company  with  him. 

Previous  to  the  settlement  of  these  first  emigrants,  a  number  of 
persons  from  Massachusetts  came  on  an  exploring  tour  to  this  region ; 
on  their  return  they  obtained  a  grant  from  the  legislature  of  Massa¬ 
chusetts  of  a  large  tract,  which  they  afterward  purchased  of  the  In¬ 
dians.  This  tract  contained  230,000  square  acres,  for  which  the 
company  paid  to  the  state  £1,500.  It  appears  that  when  the  agents 
of  the  company  came  on,  they  found  that  patents  had  already  been 
granted  to  Bingham,  Wilson,  and  Cox,  by  the  state  of  New  York, 
which  interfered  with  their  grants.  This  claim  of  Massachusetts  to 
this  part  of  the  state,  originating  in  some  ancient  colonial  claims,  was 
finally  satisfied  by  the  grant  of  the  right  of  pre-emption  to  certain 
lands  in  western  New  York. 

The  valley  of  Oquago  was  settled  by  the  whites  about  the  year 
1788.  The  most  of  the  earlier  inhabitants  were  from  Waterbury  and 
Watertown,  in  Connecticut.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Buck  was  the  first  min¬ 
ister  who  preached  in  the  place.  He  was  called  by  the  first  settlers 
Major  Buck,  as  he  had  held  that  office  during  the  revolutionary  war. 
Mr.  Williston,  a  missionary  from  Connecticut,  appears  to  have  been 
the  next.  Soon  after  the  formation  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  Rev. 
Seth  Sage  became  the  settled  pastor,  and  remained  such  till  his  death. 
The  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1803,  by  Bishop  Chase,  then 
a  missionary  in  Western  New  York. 

Oquago,  now  Windsor  in  this  county,  about  16  miles  from  Bing¬ 
hamton,  was  the  residence  of  a  tribe  of  Indians.  It  appears  to  have 
been  a  half-way  resting-place  for  the  “  Six  Nations”  as  they  passed 
south  of  Wyoming,  and  also  for  the  tribes  of  the  Wyoming  valley  as 
they  passed  north.  Jonathan  Edwards,  the  celebrated  divine,  while  a 
minister  at  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  Indians  in  this  place.  He  procured  a  missionary  for  them,  Rev. 
Mr.  Hawley,  and  three  other  persons,  Mr.  Woodbridge,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ashley.  The  three  latter  returned.  Mrs.  Ashley,  it  appears,  was 
employed  during  her  stay  as  an  interpreter.  Mr.  Hawley  remained 
their  missionary  until  the  commencement  of  the  French  war,  when  it 
was  considered  unsafe  for  him  to  remain  longer.  About  one  year  pre¬ 
vious  to  this  time,  Mr.  Edwards  sent  one  of  his  sons,  a  lad  of  about 
nine  years  of  age,  to  Oquago,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Hawley,  to  learn 
the  Indian  language,  in  order  to  become  an  Indian  missionary.  When 
the  war  commenced,  a  faithful  Indian,  who  had  special  care  of  the 
lad,  took  him  and  conveyed  him  to  his  father,  part  of  the  way  on  his 
back.  This  lad  was  afterwards  President  of  Union  College. 


CAYUGA  COUNTY. 


59 


CAYUGA  COUNTY. 


Cayuga  county  was  formed  from  Onondaga  in  1799  ;  but  other 
counties  have  since  been  taken  from  it.  Greatest  length  N.  and  S. 
55,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  23  miles.  From  Albany,  W.,  156 
miles,  from  New  York,  301.  Upon  the  S.  the  surface  rises  into 
ridges,  along  the  Cayuga  lake,  the  Owasco  lake  and  inlet,  and  the 
Skaneateles  lake.  The  principal  streams  are  the  Salmon  and  Fall 
creeks,  tributaries  of  the  Cayuga  lake  ;  the  inlet  and  the  outlet  of  the 
Owasco  lake,  and  the  Seneca  river,  which  is  the  eventual  recipient  of 
all  these  waters.  The  river  flows  through  a  plain  in  which  its  sluggish 
course  is  scarce  perceptible,  and  the  marshes  which  it  waters,  extend 
to  the  western  border  of  the  county ;  in  its  way  it  passes  through 
Cross  lake,  a  basin  5  miles  long  by  2  wide,  lying  on  the  eastern  boun¬ 
dary,  in  a  low  swampy  district,  whose  surface  is  370  feet  above  tide. 

The  disposition  of  the  waters  shows  an  irregular  surface.  The 
Poplar  ridge,  E.  of  the  Cayuga  lake,  rises  in  some  places  to  600 
feet  above,  but  has  a  gentle  slope  towards  the  lake,  displaying 
finely-cultivated  farms.  The  eastern  declivity  of  this  and  other 
hills  is  more  abrupt.  On  the  N.  of  Auburn,  the  country  is  com¬ 
paratively  level,  yet  has  a  rolling  appearance  from  the  many  large 
gravel  hills  scattered  over  the  plain,  assuming  in  many  places  the 
semblance  of  stupendous  mounds  formed  by  art.  This  gravel  has 
much  limestone,  and  produces  excellent  wheat.  Few  portions  of  the 
state  possess  more  fertile  lands,  or  can  boast  of  higher  cultivation. 
In  all  the  fruits  of  the  climate,  this  county  is  prolific.  About  two 
thirds  of  the  land  is  under  improvement.  The  southern  portion  is 
most  thickly  settled.  The  Cayuga  lake,  which  forms  a  large  part  of 
the  western  boundary,  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  36  miles  long, 
and  from  1  to  4  broad.  The  county  is  divided  into  22  towns  : 


Auburn, 

Aurelius, 

Brutus, 

Cato, 

Conquest, 

Fleming, 


Genoa, 

Niles, 

Sterling, 

Ira, 

Owasco, 

Summer  Hill, 

Ledyard, 

Scipio, 

Sempronius, 

Venice, 

Locke, 

Victory. 

Metz, 

Sennet, 

Moravia, 

Springport, 

The  town  of  Auburn,  taken  from  Aurelius  in  1823,  is  3  miles  by 
2,  comprehending  6  lots  of  the  old  military  tract,  included  within  the 
chartered  limits  of  the  village.  The  compact  part  of  the  village  lies 
2i  miles  from  Lake  Owasco,  on  the  outlet  of  that  name.  It  is  on 
the  line  of  the  Western  Railroad,  156  miles  from  Albany,  314  from 
New  York,  7  from  Weedsport  on  the  Erie  canal,  and  339  from  Wash¬ 
ington.  Pop.  9,548.  There  are  7  churches,  a  state  prison,  court¬ 
house,  theological  seminary,  an  academy,  two  banks,  4  printing-offices, 
and  a  number  of  splendid  hotels.  Auburn  is  one  of  the  most  thriving 
and  beautiful  villages  in  the  state.  Its  principal  streets  are  adorned 
with  lofty  buildings  of  brick  and  limestone. 


* 


60 


CAYUGA  COUNTY 


Eastern  part  of  Genesee-street,  Auburn. 


Auburn  was  first  settled  in  1793,  by  Col.  John  L.  Hardenbergh, 
and  was  for  many  years  called  “  Hardenbergh' s  Corners."  It  became 
a  post  village  in  1800,  and  in  1805  the  county  town  ;  and  received  its 
present  name  from  Dr.  Crosset.  At  this  time,  the  village  consisted 
of  but  a  few  log  dwellings,  a  store  or  two,  a  grist-mill,  &c.,  all  situ¬ 
ated  near  the  bank  of  the  creek,  not  far  from  the  spot  occupied  by 
the  establishment,  of  Messrs.  Leonard  &  Warden. 

In  1807,  the  building  of  the  courthouse  was  commenced,  and  the 
county  courts  removed  to  this  place  from  Aurora.  In  1811,  the  vil¬ 
lage  is  supposed  to  have  contained  about  300  inhabitants ;  the  court¬ 
house  was  the  only  public  building ;  even  this  was  in  an  unfinished 
state.  The  construction  of  an  academy,  a  three-story  brick  building, 
and  a  neat  little  Episcopal  church  were  commenced,  and  a  Presby¬ 
terian  society  formed  during  this  year. 

In  1815,  Auburn  was  incorporated  a  village,  at  which  time  it  con¬ 
tained  1,000  inhabitants.  From  this  period,  its  improvement  became 
more  rapid  and  uniform  ;  walks  were  now  put  down  on  the  principal 
streets,  which  before  were  muddy  and  uneven.  In  1816,  the  state 
prison  was  founded  in  this  place  ;  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in 
North-street  was  commenced,  and  the  Bank  of  Auburn,  capital 
$200,000,  was  chartered.  In  April,  1817,  the  village  contained 
l,o06  inhabitants,  148  dwellings,  20  stores,  and  40  mechanic  shops. 


CAYUGA  COUNTY, 


61 


Auburn  Theological  Seminary. 


The  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  was  established  by  the  synod 
of  Geneva  in  1819,  and  by  the  act  of  incorporation,  in  1820,  was  placed 
under  commissioners,  chosen  by  the  synods  of  Genesee,  Geneva,  and 
Oneida.  There  are  four  professors  in  the  institution.  Over  300  cler¬ 
gymen  have  been  educated  since  its  establishment.  In  1839,  the  num¬ 
ber  of  students  was  71.  The  principal  building  is  of  stone,  presenting 
a  front  of  200  feet.  The  library  exhibits  a  valuable  collection  of  choice 
theological  works,  and  contains  upwards  of  5,000  vols. 

The  following  is  a  representation  of  the  state  prison  as  viewed  from 
the  N. ;  the  cupola  of  the  courthouse  is  seen  in  the  distance.  The 


State  Prison  at  Auburn. 


erection  of  this  prison  commenced  in  1816.  “It  occupies  a  plot  of 
ground  forming  a  square  500  feet  each  way,  enclosed  with  a  boundary 
wall  2,000  feet  in  extent,  30  feet  high,  and  4  feet  thick  at  the  base. 
A  small  river  or  creek  runs  along  the  S.  side  of  the  boundary,  and 
sufficient  power  from  the  stream  is  obtained,  by  means  of  a  water¬ 
wheel  and  shaft  through  the  wall,  to  work  the  machinery  within  the 
prison.  The  prison  buildings  stand  back  about  80  feet  from  the 


62 


CAYUGA  COUNTY. 


road,  and  form  three  sides  of  a  square  ;  the  front  part  being  about 
280  feet  long ;  each  of  the  return  wings  is  240  feet  long  and  45  in 
depth.”  The  cost  of  erecting  the  prison  was  more  than  $500,000. 
The  usual  number  of  prisoners  of  late  years  has  been  between  6  and 
700.  The  earnings  of  the  prison  during  the  year  ending  Sept.  1839, 
was  $60,161.46  ;  the  expenditures  during  the  same  period,  $51,671.21. 
Religious  instruction  is  regularly  given  by  the  chaplain.  Sunday 
schools  are  instituted  in  the  prisons,  in  which  the  students  in  the  the¬ 
ological  seminary  and  other  pious  persons  assist ;  the  younger  portion 
of  the  convicts,  if  illiterate,  are  taught  to  read,  write,  and  cast  ac¬ 
counts. 

“  The  building  contained  originally  550  cells.  More,  we  believe, 
have  lately  been  added.  They  are  principally  distributed  into  four 
tiers  or  stories,  and  constructed  on  each  side  of  the  block  or  wing. 
The  cells  are  each  7  feet  long,  7  feet  high,  and  3|  wide.  They  are 
sufficiently  lighted,  well  warmed,  and  ventilated.  The  area  between 
the  cells  and  the  parallel  walls,  10  feet  wide,  is  open  from  the  ground 
to  the  roof ;  and  of  this  interval,  3  feet  adjoining  the  cells  are  occu¬ 
pied  by  the  galleries.  This  space  in  front  of  the  cells  forms  a  com¬ 
plete  sounding-gallery,  so  that  the  watchman  in  the  open  area  on  the 
ground  can  hear  even  a  whisper,  from  a  distant  cell  in  the  upper 
story. 

“  Such  are  the  provisions  and  precautions  for  the  separate  confinement  of  the  prisoners 
at  night.  In  the  daytime,  they  are  compelled  to  labor  together,  in  an  orderly  and  peni¬ 
tential  manner.  Soon  after  daylight,  on  a  signal  given  by  the  prison  bell,  the  turnkey  un¬ 
locks  the  doors  of  the  cells,  when  the  convicts,  each  with  his  night  tub,  water  can,  and 
mush  kid,  march  out ;  and  having  disposed  of  these  articles  according  to  the  order  of  the 
prison,  proceed  to  the  workshops,  where  they  commence  the  labor  of  the  day.  At  a  fixed 
hour  another  bell  is  rung,  when  they  form  again  in  line,  and  march  in  silence,  with  closed 
files,  to  the  mess-room,  where  they  breakfast  at  narrow  tables,  so  arranged  that  they  are 
unable  to  exchange  even  looks  or  signs.  After  an  interval  of  20  to  30  minutes,  they  re¬ 
turn  in  the  same  manner  to  the  workshops.  At  12  o’clock,  they*dine  under  the  same  care 
to  prevent  intercourse.  On  the  approach  of  night,  they  wash  their  faces  and  hands,  and 
at  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  form  a  line  according  to  the  number  of  their  cells,  march  out  of 
the  shops  to  their  tubs,  and  at  the  word  of  command  take  them  up,  step  forward  and 
empty  into  the  drain  the  water  which  had  been  placed  in  them  in  the  morning  to  purify 
them.  They  then  proceed,  with  closed  files,  the  tubs  hanging  on  their  arms,  to  the  wash¬ 
room,  adjoining  the  kitchen,  where  their  mush  and  molasses  in  a  kid,  and  water  in  a  can 
for  drinking,  have  been  placed  together,  in  rows,  by  the  cooks  ;  and,  without  breaking 
their  step,  they  stoop  and  take  up  the  can  and  kid,  march  to  their  respective  galleries, 
enter  their  cells  as  they  arrive  at  them,  and  pull  the  doors  partly  shut.  Each  gallery  is 
occupied  by  one  company,  which  is  marched  and  locked  up  by  one  turnkey,  with  two 
keys,  differing  from  each  other,  and  from  all  the  rest.  The  convicts  then  eat  supper  in 
their  respective  cells.  At  an  early  hour  they  are  required,  by  the  ringing  of  a  bell,  to  take 
off  their  clothes  and  go  to  bed,  upon  their  canvass  hammocks  ;  when  well,  they  are  not 
permitted  to  lie  down  before  the  bell  rings,  nor  to  get  up  again,  but  from  necessity,  until  the 
ringing  of  the  morning  bell.  During  the  night,  turnkeys  are  constantly  moving  round  the 
galleries,  wearing  woollen  socks  on  their  feet,  and  walking  so  noiselessly  that  the  convicts 
are  not  able  to  discover  their  presence  or  absence  ;  and  thus  the  whole  wing,  containing 
several  hundred  convicts,  is  preserved  in  perfect  stillness  and  order.  It  is  obvious  that  no 
communication  can  take  place  between  the  convicts  at  night,  without  the  connivance  or 
negligence  of  the  turnkeys,  which  is  guarded  against  by  the  visits  of  the  keeper  and  his 
deputies  at  different  hours.” 


CAYUGA  COUNTY. 


63 


Cayuga  Bridge. 


The  above  view  of  Cayuga  Bridge,  which  crosses  the  Cayuga 
lake  on  the  great  western  turnpike,  was  taken  on  the  western  bank, 
and  shows  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake  a  portion  of  the  little  vil¬ 
lage  of  Cayuga.  The  large  building  on  the  right  is  the  well-known 
tavern  of  Mr.  Titus,  having  superior  accommodations.  This  bridge, 
so  famous  in  political  estimates,  was  commenced  in  May,  1799,  and 
finished  in  September,  1800.  It  was  built  by  the  Manhattan  Com¬ 
pany  of  New  York,  and  cost  $150,000.  Its  length  is  one  mile. 
“  This  bridge  is  the  longest  in  America,  perhaps  in  the  world,  and 
yet  five  years  ago,”  says  a  traveller  in  1800,  “the  Indians  possessed 
the  shores  of  the  lake,  imbosomed  in  almost  impenetrable  woods.” 
The  first  bridge  was  built  on  mud  sills — the  second  on  piles — the 
third  and  last  was  erected  in  1833,  and  cost  about  $15,000. 

Weedsport,  on  the  line  of  the  Erie  canal,  consists  of  upwards  of 
100  dwellings,  2  churches;  is  7  miles  N.  from  Auburn,  and  26  W. 
from  Syracuse.  Aurora,  18  miles  S.W.  from  Auburn,  is  a  most  beau¬ 
tiful  village  on  the  east  bank  of  Cayuga  lake.  It  contains  about  80 
dwellings,  3  churches,  and  the  Cayuga  Academy.  Port  Byron,  on  the 
Erie  canal,  8  miles  W.  from  Auburn,  has  about  150  dwellings,  3 
churches,  and  an  extensive  flouring  and  other  mills.  Montezuma  vil¬ 
lage,  10  miles  from  Auburn,  at  the  junction  of  the  Seneca,  Cayuga, 
and  Erie  canals,  consists  of  about  80  dwellings.  In  1839,  the  state 
was  successful  in  sinking  a  shaft  about  300  feet,  from  which  issues  a 
large  quantity  of  the  best  salt  water  in  the  state.  The  salt  made  from 
it  is  remarkably  free  from  impurities,  and  the  facilities  for  its  manu¬ 
facture  are  great,  the  ground  being  good  and  fire-wood  plenty.  No 
lime  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  salt  from  these  springs.  The 
Montezuma  marshes  commence  about  a  mile  westward  of  the  village  ; 
they  are  gradually  drying  away,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  healthful¬ 
ness  of  this  town  is  now  equal  to  that  of  any  in  the  vicinity. 


64 


CATTARAUGUS  COUNTY. 


CATTARAUGUS  COUNTY. 

4 

Cattaraugus  county,  taken  from  Genesee  in  1803  ;  centrally  dis¬ 
tant  from  New  York  via  Catskill,  384;  from  Albany,  292;  from 
Buffalo,  SE.,  50  miles.  Length,  E.  and  W.,  39,  and  greatest  breadth 
N.  and  S.  36  miles.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  Indian  word  Gah- 
ta-ra-ke-ras,  signifying  stinking  shore  or  beach,  originally  applied  to 
Lake  Erie,  and  thence  extended  over  the  adjacent  country.  This 
county  is  highly  elevated,  being  from  500  to  1200  feet  above  Lake 
Erie.  Its  surface  is  broken  by  some  hills  of  no  mean  pretensions  to 
the  character  of  mountains,  but  in  general  it  is  but  moderately  uneven, 
and  in  some  parts  quite  level.  In  the  S.,  along  the  Allegany  river, 
there  are  broad  belts  of  white  pine,  behind  which  there  are  marshes  ; 
excepting  these,  the  lands  are  generally  firm,  and  timbered  with  a 
variety  of  trees  of  lofty  growth.  No  region  of  this  state,  and  proba¬ 
bly  none  of  any  other  in  the  Union,  was  originally  covered  with  an 
equal  amount  of  valuable  timber.  Some  of  the  trees  have  measured 
230  feet  in  height,  and  five  of  them  have  been  known  to  furnish  a 
hundred  “  lumberman’s”  logs.  Shingles  and  boards  for  the  supply 
of  the  whole  western  world,  have  been  manufactured  in  the  shingle- 
shanties  and  saw-mills  upon  the  Allegany  and  its  tributaries.  The 
lands  in  the  northern  part  are  warmer  and  better  adapted  to  grain  and 
grass  crops  than  in  the  south,  except  at  the  SW.  corner.  This 
county  formed  part  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  purchase,  who 
originally  owned  it  all  excepting  the  Indian  reservations.  About  one 
eighth  of  the  county  is  under  improvement.  The  county  is  divided 
into  26  towns,  viz. : 


Ashford, 

Burton, 

Cold  Spring, 

Conewango, 

Dayton, 

Ellicottville, 

Farmersville, 


Franklinville, 

Freedom, 

Great  Valley, 

Hinsdale, 

Humphrey, 

Leon, 

Little  Valley, 


Lyndon, 

Machias, 

Mansfield, 

Napoli, 

New  Albion, 
Olean, 

Otto, 


Perrysburgh, 

Persia, 

Portville, 

Randolph, 

Y  orkshire 


Ellicottville,  the  county  seat,  is  292  miles  from  Albany,  50  W.  from 
Angelica,  and  50  SW.  from  Buffalo.  Besides  the  county  buildings, 
it  contains  2  churches,  about  90  dwellings,  2  printing  and  2  extensive 
land  offices.  Olean,  at  the  junction  of  Olean  creek  with  Allegany 
river,  is  the  oldest  place  in  the  county.  The  village  contains  about 
1 00  dwellings,  2  churches.  A  large  amount  of  lumber  is  annually 
sent  to  market  down  the  Allegany,  and  thence  to  the  Ohio,  from  this 
place.  Lodi,  25  miles  NW.  from  Ellicottville,  on  both  sides  of  Cat¬ 
taraugus  creek,  lies  partly  in  Erie  county.  The  village  consists  of 
about  100  dwellings,  2  churches,  printing  office,  and  a  number  of  mills 
and  factories.  The  water-power  at  this  place  is  abundant. 


CHATAUQUE  COUNTY. 


65 


CHATAUQUE  COUNTY. 


Chatauque  county,  the  southwestern  county  of  the  state,  was 
formed  from  Genesee  in  1808.  The  name  is  a  corruption  of  the  In¬ 
dian  word  Ots-ha-ta-ka,  which  signifies  a  foggy  place,  and  was  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  country  around  the  head  of  the  Chatauque  lake,  even  now 
famous  for  its  fogs.  Its  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  is  40,  and  greatest 
breadth  E.  and  W.  36  miles  ;  centrally  distant  from  Albany,  W., 
330,  and  from  New  York,  by  way  of  Cattskill,  NW.,  428  miles. 
The  soil  generally  is  strong  clay  loam,  very  productive  of  large  crops 
of  wheat,  barley,  and  corn  ;  the  last  is  however  destroyed  sometimes 
by  the  early  frosts  to  which  the  country  is  subject.  The  plain  upon 
the  lake  is  highly  fertile,  and  produces  the  finest  fruits  adapted  to  the 
climate. 

This  county,  though  bordering  on  Lake  Erie,  is  situated  on  the 
elevated  ground  known  as  the  “  Chatauque  Ridge,”  which  divides  the 
waters  of  the  northern  lakes  from  those  of  the  Allegany  river.  This 
ridge  is  generally  from  5  to  10  miles  from  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
and  elevated  from  790  to  1400  feet  above  it.  The  general  surface 
of  the  county,  though  hilly,  is  not  mountainous,  and  the  highest  hills 
are  arable  to  their  summits,  and  frequently  adorned  with  valuable  farms. 
The  soil  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  from  1  to  4  miles  wide,  is  a 
border  of  rich  alluvion,  and  along  the  margin  of  the  rivers.  The  up¬ 
land  is  generally  a  moist  loam.  Grain  is  raised  in  considerable  quan¬ 
tities,  and  the  county  is  generally  well  adapted  to  grazing.  Fruit,  such 
as  apples,  pears,  and  plums,  succeeds  well. 

Chatauque  lake  is  a  fine  sheet  of  water  16  miles  long,  and  from  1 
to  4  wide.  Its  elevation  is  1,305  feet,  above  the  ocean,  and  it  is  navi¬ 
gated  by  steamboats.  This  county  formed  part  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  purchase  ;  and  wild  lands  were  offered  by  them  at  $1,50 
to  $4  per  acre  ;  but  a  company  from  Batavia  bought  their  interest  in 
the  wild  land  of  the  county.  More  than  three  quarters  of  the  county 
are  yet  unimproved.  The  county  is  divided  into  24  towns,  viz. : 


Arkwright, 

Busti, 

Carroll, 

Charlotte, 

Chatauque, 

Cherry-creek, 


Clymer, 

Ellery, 

Ellicott, 

Ellington, 

French  Creek, 

Gerry, 


Hanover, 

Harmony, 

Mina, 

Poland, 

Pomfret, 

Portland, 


Ripley, 

Sheridan, 

Sherman, 

Stockton, 

Villenova, 

Westfield. 


Mayville,  the  county  seat,  incorporated  in  1830,  is  66  miles  SW. 
from  Buffalo,  and  33  W.  of  Albany ;  contains  about  80  dwellings,  4 
churches  ;  beautifully  situated  at  the  head  of  Chatauque  lake.  There 
is  a  steamboat  plies  between  this  place  and  Jamestown,  22  miles  dis¬ 
tant,  during  the  season  of  navigation. 

Jamestown,  the  principal  village  in  the  county,  is  on  the  Chatauque 
outlet,  4  miles  below  the  lake,  and  contains  about  200  dwellings. 


66 


CHATAUQUE  COUNTY 


Southern  view  of  Jamestown. 


The  above  view  was  taken  near  the  sawmill  on  the  Chatauque  out¬ 
let,  seen  in  front,  and  shows  the  principal  portion  of  the  place.  The 
spire  in  the  centre  of  the  view,  is  that  of  the  Congregational  church. 
The  steeple  on  the  left  is  the  Presbyterian,  and  that  on  the  right  the 
Academy.  There  are  also  a  Methodist  and  a  Baptist  church,  and 
2  weekly  newspaper  offices  in  the  place.  A  steamboat  plies  on  the 
lake  between  here  and  Mayville.  James  Pendergrast,  Esq.,  from 
Pittstown,  Rensselaer  co.,  established  himself  here  in  1811  or ’12, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  village.  The  first  tavern  was  built 
shortly  after  by  Jacob  Fenton.  But  few  dwellings  were  erected  till 
1816,  when  the  place  rapidly  increased  by  emigrants,  principally  from 
the  eastern  part  of  the  state. 

Fredonia  village  is  situated  upwards  of  2  miles  E.  from  Lake  Erie, 
45  SW.  from  Buffalo.  It  is  the  oldest  village  in  the  county,  incorpo¬ 
rated  in  1829.  It  contains  about  1000  inhabitants,  150  dwellings,  5 
churches,  and  an  incorporated  academy.  In  the  immediate  vicinity 
are  situated  the  Chatauque  Gas  Springs,  near  the  bed  of  Canadawa 
creek  :  the  gas,  which  escapes  from  the  same  in  great  quantities,  is 
suitable  for  lighting  streets  and  for  domestic  purposes. 

Dunkirk,  formerly  owned  by  the  Dunkirk  Land  Company,  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  Lake  Erie,  and  is  destined  to  be  a  place  of 
great  importance  from  its  being  the  terminating  point  of  the  line  of 
the  New  York  and  Erie  railroad.  The  distance  from  Buffalo  is  44 
miles,  and  to  Piermont,  on  the  Hudson,  (about  22  miles  N.  of  New 
York,)  by  the  line  of  the  railroad,  446  miles.  This  whole  distance 
from  Dunkirk  to  New  York,  on  the  completion  of  the  road,  will  be 
accomplished  in  from  20  to  24  hours.  The  U.  S.  government,  view¬ 
ing  the  growing  importance  of  the  place,  has  expended  large  sums  in 
the  improvement  of  its  harbor.  This  port  is  occasionally  open  many 
days,  and  even  weeks,  earlier  in  the  spring  and  later  in  the  fall,  than 
that  of  Buffalo.  The  following  view  was  taken  about  a  mile  from  the 
village,  seen  on  the  left.  The  large  cupola  is  that  of  the  hotel,  a 
capacious  brick  structure  ;  the  steeple  next  to  it  is  that  of  the  Presby¬ 
terian  church,  and  the  smaller  one  the  Academy.  The  opposite  shore 


CHEMUNG  COUNTY 


67 


Northeastern  view  of  Dunkirk  Harbor. 

of  the  harbor  is  seen  beautifully  curving  around  in  the  distance,  and 
is  lined  to  near  the  water’s  edge  with  a  fine  growth  of  forest  trees. 
Van  Buren  is  the  name  of  a  place  laid  out  as  a  city  2  miles  above 
Dunkirk,  where  there  is  a  good  harbor. 

Westfield  village,  6  miles  NW.  from  Mayville,  and  60  from  Buffalo, 
contains  upwards  of  100  dwellings,  3  churches,  and  an  incorporated 
Academy,  12  stores,  2  flouring  and  4  sawmills.  Barcelona,  or  Port¬ 
land,  on  Lake  Erie,  about  one  mile  from  Westfield,  contains  about  40 
dwellings.  It  is  a  port  of  entry,  and  is  a  place  of  considerable  trade. 
It  has  a  light-house  which  is  lighted  by  gas  issuing  from  the  bed  of  a 
creek  about  a  mile  distant,  and  is  carried  to  the  light-house  by  pipes. 
The  French,  at  an  early  period,  had  a  military  post  at  this  place. 


CHEMUNG  COUNTY. 

Chemung  county  was  formed  from  the  western  part  of  Tioga  in 
1836.  Greatest  length,  N.  and  S.,  2&;  greatest  breadth,  E.  and  W., 
20  miles.  The  surface  of  the  county  is  hilly.  The  soil  consists  gen¬ 
erally  of  sandy  and  gravelly  loam,  interspersed  with  patches  of  marl 
and  clay.  The  uplands  are  commonly  better  adapted  to  grass  than 
grain  ;  but  the  valleys  give  fine  crops  of  wheat  and  corn  ;  oats, 
beans,  barley,  peas,  and  hops  thrive  almost  everywhere.  The  pine 
plains,  principally  in  the  towns  of  Elmira  and  Big  Flats,  formerly 
considered  almost  worthless,  are  now  deemed  highly  valuable  ;  pro¬ 
ducing,  by  treatment  with  plaster,  and  due  succession  of  crops,  abun¬ 
dant  returns  in  wheat,  Indian  corn,  and  clover.  The  Chemung  canal, 
connecting  Elmira  with  Cayuga  lake,  is  about  20  miles  in  length. 
The  New  York  and  Erie  railroad  passes  through  the  towns  of  Che¬ 
mung,  Southport,  Elmira,  and  Big  Flats.  Chemung  county  is  divided 
into  ten  towns,  viz. : 

Big  Flats,  Catlin,  Chepipng,  Elmira,  Southport, 

Catherines,  Cayuta,  Dix,  Erin,  Veteran. 


6S 


CHEMUNG  COUNTY. 


Elmira  village  is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  Newtown  creek  with 
the  Chemung  river.  It  was  formerly  the  half-shire  village  of  Tioga 
county,  and  is  now  the  seat  of  justice  for  Chemung  county.  It  was 
incorporated  in  1815  by  the  name  of  Newtown,  which  was  changed 
to  Elmira  in  1828  :  its  ancient  Indian  name  was  Conewawah,  a  word 
signifying  “  a  head  on  a  pole.” 


Distant  view  of  the  Village  of  Elmira. 


The  above  view  was  taken  near  the  Sullivan  mill,*  about  a  mile 
eastward  of  the  village,  near  the  junction  of  Newtown  creek  with  the 
Chemung  river.  The  first  spire  on  the  right  is  that  of  the  Presbyte¬ 
rian  church,  the  next  to  the  left  the  courthouse  ;  the  others  are  those 
of  the  Episcopal  and  Baptist  churches.  The  bridge  seen  extending 
across  the  Chemung  is  600  feet  in  length. 

Elmira  is  admirably  situated  for  the  purposes  of  trade,  in  the  midst 
of  a  fertile  valley,  eight  to  ten  miles  in  extent  from  N.  to  S.,  and  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  miles  E.  and  W.  The  place  is  connected  with  Penn¬ 
sylvania  and  Maryland,  in  trade,  by  the  Chemung  and  Susquehannah 
rivers,  and  with  almost  every  portion  of  the  state  by  means  of  the 
Chemung  canal,  which  leads  through  Seneca  lake,  and  thence  by  the 
Seneca  to  the  Erie  canal.  The  village  contains  about  300  dwellings, 
and  upwards  of  2000  inhabitants,  4  churches,  2  newspaper  establish¬ 
ments,  1  bank,  and  a  number  of  select  schools.  The  village  is  on  the 
line  of  the  Erie  railroad. 

The  section  of  country  in  which  Elmira  is  situated  became  known 
to  the  whites  during  the  revolutionary  war.  When  Gen.  Sullivan 
was  penetrating  into  the  Indian  country,  in  1779,  the  Indians  under 
Brant,  and  the  tones  under  Colonels  Butler  and  Johnson,  made  a 


*  So  called  from  its  being  only  a  few  rods  above  Sullivan’s  landing-place,  where  he  en¬ 
camped,  both  on  the  advance  of,  and  return  from  his  expedition  against  the  Indians.  The 
site  of  the  fortress  which  Sullivan  built,  can  be  distinctly  seen  from  the  south  windows  of 
this  mill. 


CHEMUNG  COUNTY. 


69 


stand  to  oppose  his  progress  at  the  SE.  point  of  this  town.  They 
intrenched  themselves  by  a  breastwork  of  about  a  half  a  mile  in 
length,  so  covered  by  a  bend  in  the  river  as  to  expose  only  their  front 
and  one  of  their  flanks  to  attack.  On  Sullivan’s  approach,  Aug.  29th, 
an  action  commenced  which  is  sometimes  called  the  “  Battle  of  the 
Chemung  the  force  of  the  Indians  and  tories  has  been  estimated 
from  800  to  1500,  while  that  of  the  Americans  was  between  4000 
and  5000.  The  following  account  of  the  battle  is  extracted  from  the 
2d  vol.  of  “  Stone's  Life  of  Brant." 

“  The  enemy’s  position  was  discovered  by  Major  Parr,  commanding  the  advance  guard, 
at  about  11  o’clock  in  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  August.  General  Hand  immediately 
formed  the  light  infantry  in  a  wood,  at  the  distance  of  about  400  yards  from  the  breast¬ 
work,  and  waited  until  the  main  body  of  the  army  arrived  on  the  ground.  A  skirmishing 
was,  however,  kept  up  by  both  sides — the  Indians  sallying  out  of  their  works  by  small  par¬ 
ties,  firing,  and  suddenly  retreating — making  the  woods  at  the  same  time  to  resound  with 
their  war-whoops,  piercing  the  air  from  point  to  point  as  though  the  tangled  forest  were 
alive  with  their  grim-visaged  warriors.  Correctly  judging  that  the  hill  upon  his  right  was 
occupied  by  the  savages,  Gen.  Sullivan  ordered  Poor’s  brigade  to  wheel  off,  and  endeavor 
to  gain  their  left  flank,  and,  if  possible,  to  surround  them,  while  the  artillery  and  main  body 
of  the  Americans  attacked  them  in  front.  The  order  was  promptly  executed  ;  but  as  Poor 
climbed  the  ascent,  the  battle  became  animated,  and  the  possession  of  the  hill  was  bravely 
contested.  In  front,  the  enemy  stood  a  hot  cannonade  for  more  than  two  hours.  Both 
tories  and  Indians  were  entitled  to  the  credit  of  fighting  manfully.  Every  rock,  and  treo, 
and  bush,  shielded  its  man,  from  behind  which  the  winged  messengers  of  death  were 
thickly  sent,  but  with  so  little  effect  as  to  excite  astonishment.  The  Indians  yielded  ground 
only  inch  by  inch  ;  and  in  their  retreat,  darted  from  tree  to  tree  with  the  agility  of  the  pan¬ 
ther,  often  contesting  each  new  position  to  the  point  of  the  bayonet — a  thing  very  unusual 
even  with  militiamen,  and  still  more  rare  among  the  undisciplined  warriors  of  the  woods. 
Thayendanegea  was  the  animating  spirit  of  the  savages.  Always  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
he  used  every  effort  to  stimulate  his  warriors,  in  the  hope  of  leading  them  to  victory.  Until 
the  artillery  began  to  play,  the  whoops  and  yells  of  the  savages,  mingled  with  the  rattling  of 
musketry,  had  wellnigh  obtained  the  mastery  of  sound.  But  their  whoops  were  measur¬ 
ably  drowned  by  the  thunder  of  the  cannon.  This  cannonade  ‘  was  elegant,’  to  adopt  the 
phraseology  of  Sullivan  himself,  in  writing  to  a  friend,  and  gave  the  Indians  a  great  panic. 
Still,  the  battle  was  contested  in  front  for  a  length  of  time  with  undiminished  spirit.  But 
the  severity  of  fighting  was  on  the  flank  just  described.  As  Poor  gallantly  approached  the 
point  which  completely  uncovered  the  enemy’s  rear,  Brant,  who  had  been  the  first  to  pene¬ 
trate  the  design  of  the  American  commander,  attempted  once  more  to  rally  his  forces,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  a  battalion  of  the  rangers,  make  a  stand.  But  it  was  in  vain,  al¬ 
though  he  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  for  that  purpose — flying  from  point  to  point,  seem¬ 
ing  to  be  everywhere  present,  and  using  every  means  in  his  power  to  reanimate  the  flag¬ 
ging  spirits,  and  reinvigorate  the  arms  of  his  followers.  Having  ascended  the  steep,  and 
gained  his  object  without  faltering,  the  enemy’s  flank  was  turned  by  Poor,  and  the  fortunes 
of  the  day  decided.  Perceiving  such  to  be  the  fact,  and  that  there  was  danger  of  being 
surrounded,  the  retreat-halloo  was  raised,  and  the  enemy,  savages  and  white  men,  precipi¬ 
tately  abandoned  their  works,  crossed  the  river,  and  fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation — 
the  Indians  leaving  their  packs  and  a  number  of  their  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives 
behind  them.  The  battle  was  long,  and  on  the  side  of  the  enemy  bloody.  Eleven  of  their 
dead  were  found  upon  the  field — an  unusual  circumstance  with  the  Indians,  who  invariably 
exert  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  prevent  the  bodies  of  their  slain  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  their  foes.  But  being  pushed  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  they  had  not  time  to 
bear  them  away.  They  were  pursued  two  miles,  their  trail  affording  indubitable  proof  that, 
a  portion  of  their  dead  and  wounded  had  been  carried  off'.  Two  canoes  were  found  cov¬ 
ered  with  blood,  and  the  bodies  of  14  Indian  warriors  were  discovered  partially  buried 
among  the  leaves.  Eight  scalps  were  taken  by  the  Americans  during  the  chase.  Consid¬ 
ering  the  duration  of  the  battle,  and  the  obstinacy  with  which  it  was  maintained,  the  loss 
of  the  Americans  was  small  almost  to  a  miracle.  Only  5  or  6  men  were  killed,  and  be¬ 
tween  40  and  50  wounded.  Among  the  American  officers  wounded,  were  Maj.  Titcomb, 
Capt.  Clayes,  and  Lieut.  Collis — the  latter  mortally.  All  the  houses  of  the  contiguous 
Indian  town  were  burnt,  and  the  cornfields  destroyed.” 


70 


CHENANGO  COUNTY. 


Havanna  is  a  thriving  village  of  about  700  inhabitants,  18  miles  N. 
from  Elmira,  on  the  line  of  the  Chemung  canal,  3  miles  S.  of  Seneca 
lake.  It  contains  2  churches,  10  stores,  and  a  number  of  mills  of  va¬ 
rious  kinds.  The  village  was  founded  in  1836,  and  incorporated  in 
1839,  and  is  in  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Catherines,  so  named  from 
its  having  been  the  residence  of  Catherine  Montour,  the  wife  of  an 
Indian  sachem,  or  king.  She  has  sometimes  been  called  Queen  Esther. 
This  remarkable  woman,  it  is  said,  was  a  native  of  Canada,  a  half- 
breed,  her  father  being  one  of  the  French  governors,  probably  Count 
Frontenac.  During  the  wars  between  the  Six  Nations  and  the  French 
and  Hurons,  Catherine  was  taken  prisoner,  when  she  was  about  ten 
years  old,  and  carried  into  the  Seneca  country,  and  adopted  as  one  of 
their  children.  At  a  suitable  age  she  was  married  to  a  distinguished 
chief  of  her  tribe,  by  whom  she  had  several  children.  Her  husband 
was  killed  in  battle  about  1730.  She  is  represented  as  having  been  a 
handsome  woman  when  young,  genteel,  and  of  good  address.  She 
frequently  accompanied  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  to  Philadelphia, 
and  other  places  where  treaties  were  holden.  On  account  of  her 
character  and  manners,  she  was  much  caressed  by  the  American  la¬ 
dies  of  the  first  respectability,  and  invited  and  entertained  at  their 
houses.  Her  residence  was  at  the  head  of  Seneca  lake.  She  has 
been  accused  of  perpetrating  some  savage  atrocities  at  the  massacre 
at  Wyoming,  but  the  account  does  not  appear  to  be  well  authenti¬ 
cated.  At  the  period  of  the  revolutionary  war,  Catherine’s  town  con¬ 
sisted  of  thirty  houses,  cornfields,  orchards,  &c. ;  these  were  all  de¬ 
stroyed  by  Gen.  Sullivan,  Sept.  3,  1779,  in  his  expedition  into  the  In¬ 
dian  country. 


CHENANGO  COUNTY. 

Chenango  county  was  formed  from  Herkimer  and  Tioga  counties 
in  1798  ;  the  northern  part  of  which  was  erected  into  Madison  county 
in  1806.  Its  form  is  irregular;  the  greatest  length  N.  and  S.,  35 
miles  ;  greatest  width,  28.  The  general  surface  of  the  county  is 
broken  and  hilly,  though  not  mountainous.  Its  valleys  are  extensive, 
rich,  and  fertile,  producing  large  crops  of  grain  ;  while  the  uplands 
are  well  adapted  to  grazing.  Its  agriculture  is  respectable,  and  its 
inhabitants  are  generally  farmers.  Live-stock  is  one  of  their  prin¬ 
cipal  exports.  The  Susquehannah  river  crosses  the  SE.  corner  of  the 
county.  The  Chenango  river,  one  of  its  principal  branches,  flows 
southerly  through  the  centre  of  the  county.  The  Unadilla  river 
forms  most  of  the  eastern  bounds  of  the  county.  The  numerous 
streams  in  this  county  furnish  abundance  of  fine  mill  sites.  The 
Chenango  canal  passes  through  the  county  in  the  valley  of  the  Che¬ 
nango  river.  This  county  was  principally  settled  by  emigrants  from 
the  eastern  states.  It  originally  included  the  twenty  townships  of 


CHENANGO  COUNTY. 


71 


the  “  Governor’s  purchase,”  a  part  of  which  are  now  in  Madison 
county.  The  county  is  divided  into  19  towns,  viz. : 


Bainbridge, 

Columbus, 

Coventry, 

German, 

Greene, 


Guilford, 

Lincklean, 

Macdonough, 

New-Berlin, 

Norwich, 


Otselic, 

Oxford, 

Pharsalia, 

Pitcher, 

Plymouth, 


Preston, 

Sherbourne, 

Smithville, 

Smyrna. 


Norwich  village,  the  county  seat,  is  delightfully  situated  upon  the 
Chenango  river,  110  miles  from  Albany.  Its  site  is  much  admired  by 
travellers.  It  is  surrounded  by  lands  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 


Courthouse  and  other  buildings  in  Nonvich. 

and  well  supplied  with  pure  and  wholesome  water.  There  is  a  min¬ 
eral  spring  near  the  village,  resorted  to  for  cutaneous  diseases.  The 
above  view  shows  the  courthouse  in  the  centre  of  the  engraving  ;  the 
building  with  a  spire  on  the  left,  is  the  Presbyterian  church.  The 
courthouse  has  been  but  recently  erected.  It  is  built  of  freestone,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  splendid  structures  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  Be¬ 
sides  the  above,  there  are  in  the  village  1  Episcopal,  1  Baptist,  and  1 
Methodist  church,  2  weekly  newspaper  offices,  the  Chenango  Bank, 
several  manufactories,  and  about  200  dwellings. 

The  village  of  Oxford,  on  the  Chenango  canal,  8  miles  S.  from 
Norwich,  contains  about  170  dwellings,  4  churches,  a  flourishing 
Academy,  2  printing  offices,  20  stores,  and  various  manufacturing  es¬ 
tablishments.  New  Berlin  village,  13  miles  NE.  from  Norwich,  on 
the  west  bank  of  Unadilla  river,  contains  upwards  of  100  dwellings, 
4  churches,  and  several  large  manufacturing  establishments.  Sher¬ 
burne  village,  on  the  line  of  the  Chenango  canal,  12  miles  N.  of  Nor¬ 
wich,  contains  about  100  dwellings,  4  churches,  and  an  Academy. 
Greene,  20  miles  SW.  of  Norwich,  contains  about  90  dwellings  and  4 
churches. 


72 


CLINTON  COUNTY 


CLINTON  COUNTY. 

Clinton  county  lies  on  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  at 
the  northeastern  extremity  of  the  state,  about  170  miles  N.  from  Al¬ 
bany.  Soon  after  the  conquest  of  Canada,  in  1759,  the  shores  of  Lake 
Champlain  were  visited  by  speculators  in  quest  of  pine  and  oak  tim¬ 
ber,  but  no  permanent  settlements  were  made  until  about  the  close  of 
the  revolution.  Its  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  is  40^  miles,  greatest 
breadth  37  miles.  The  northern  boundary  being  latitude  45°,  indi¬ 
cates  the  rigors  of  a  cold  northern  country. 

The  natural  advantages  enjoyed  by  this  county  have  been  undervalued.  Along  the 
whole  eastern  border,  adjoining  the  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  a  wide  tract  of  land  ex¬ 
tends,  moderately  uneven  or  quite  level,  with  a  pretty  strong  inclination  or  depression 
eastward,  averaging  8  miles  in  width,  of  no  inferior  quality.  It  amply  repays  the  labor  of 
the  husbandman.  The  western  part  is  mountainous,  but  these  mountains  are  covered 
with  timber,  and  the  county  with  rapid  streams  and  mill  sites,  and  abounds  with  the  rich¬ 
est  and  best  of  iron  ores,  already  extensively  manufactured.  The  soil  is  of  various  quali¬ 
ties.  On  the  broad  belt  of  comparatively  level  land  above  noticed,  it  is  principally  a 
clayey  with  some  tracts  of  a  sandy  loam.  The  streams  supply  a  profusion  of  good 
natural  sites  for  all  sorts  of  hydraulic  work.  With  these  advantages,  this  county  looks 
forward  with  confidence  to  increased  sources  of  business  and  profit. 


About  one  fifth  part  is  settled.  The  county  is  divided  into  10  towns  : 

Au  Sable,  Black  Brook,  Chazy,  Mooers,  Plattsburg, 

Beekmantown,  Champlain,  Ellenburgh,  Peru,  Saranac. 


View  of  Plattsburg. 


Plattsburg,  an  incorporated  village  and  county  seat,  is  distant  from 
New  York  319,  from  Albany  164,  from  Whitehall  112,  and  from  Og- 
densburg,  E.  120  miles.  The  accompanying  view  was  taken  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Saranac,  about  30  rods  above  the  bridge.  The 
first  steeple  on  the  left  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  the  second 
the  Methodist,  the  third  the  courthouse,  the  fourth  the  Episcopal,  and 
the  fifth  the  Catholic.  Besides  the  abovementioned  public  buildings, 
there  is  an  academy,  the  Clinton  county  bank,  and  about  300  buildings. 


CLINTON  COUNTY. 


73 


Plattsburg  is  rendered  memorable  as  the  place  of  the  victory  of 
Com.  McDonough  and  Gen.  Macomb,  over  the  British  naval  and 
land  forces,  in  Sept.,  1814.  The  following  account  of  the  military 
movements  on  the  land  are  copied  from  the  statements  given  by  Maj. 
A.  C.  Flagg  and  Gen.  St.  J.  B.  L.  Skinner,  who  both  were  actors  in 
the  scenes  described. 

“  *  On  the  31st  Aug.,  (says  Maj.  Flagg,)  the  advance  of  the  British  army  under  Gen. 
Brisbane  entered  Champlain,  and  encamped  on  the  north  side  of  the  great  Chazy  river, 
and  on  the  same  day  Maj.  Gen.  Mooers  ordered  out  the  militia  of  the  counties  of  Clinton 
and  Essex,’  en  masse.  ‘  The  regiment  from  Clinton  co.,  under  Lieut.  Col.  Miller,  imme¬ 
diately  assembled,  and  on  the  2d  Sept,  took  a  position  on  the  west  road  near  the  village 
of  Chazy  ;  and  on  the  3d,  Gen.  Wright,  with  such  of  his  brigade  as  had  arrived,  occu¬ 
pied  a  position  on  the  same  road,  about  8  miles  in  advance  of  this  place.  On  the  4th,  the 
enemy  having  brought  up  his  main  body  to  Champlain,  took  up  his  line  of  march  for 
Plattsburg.  The  rifle  corps,  under  Lieut.  Col.  Appling  on  the  lake  road,  fell  back  as  far 
as  Dead  creek,  blocking  up  the  road  in  such  a  manner  as  to  impede  the  advance  of  the 
enemy  as  much  as  possible.  The  enemy  advanced  on  the  5th,  within  a  few  miles  of  Col. 
Appling’s  position,  and  finding  it  too  strong  to  attack,  halted,  and  caused  a  road  to  be 
made  west  into  the  Beekmantown  road,  in  which  the  light  brigade  under  Gen.  Powers 
advanced  ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  about  7  o’clock,  attacked  the  militia,  which 
had  at  this  time  increased  to  nearly  700,  under  Gen.  Mooers  ;  and  a  small  detachment  of 
regulars  under  Maj.  Wool,  about  7  miles  from  this  place.  After  the  first  fire,  a  consider¬ 
able  part  of  the  militia  broke  and  fled  in  every  direction.  Many,  however,  manfully 
stood  their  ground,  and  with  the  small  corps  of  Maj.  Wool,  bravely  contested  the  ground 
against  five  times  their  number,  falling  back  gradually,  and  occupying  the  fences  on  each 
side  of  the  road,  till  they  arrived  within  a  mile  of  the  town,  when  they  were  reinforced 
by  two  pieces  of  artillery  under  Capt.  Leonard  ;  and  our  troops  occupying  a  strong  position 
behind  a  stone  wall,  for  some  time  stopped  the  progress  of  the  enemy.’ 

“  At  this  point,  one  of  the  finest  specimens  of  discipline  ever  exhibited,  was  shown  by 
the  British  troops  on  the  occasion  of  the  opening  Capt.  Leonard’s  battery  upon  them.  The 
company  to  which  I  was  attached,  formed  a  part  of  the  left  flank  of  our  little  army,  and 
was  on  the  rise  of  ground  west  of  the  road  leading  from  Mr.  Halsey’s  corner  to  Isaac  C. 
Platt’s,  and  about  midway  between  the  artillery  and  the  head  of  the  British  column ;  and 
the  whole  scene  was  open  to  our  view.  Here,  (at  Halsey’s  comer,)  was  a  battery  of  two 
field-pieces,  so  perfectly  masked  by  a  party  of  the  infantry,  that  the  enemy  probably  was 
not  aware  of  it,  until  it  opened  upon  him.  There  a  dense  column  of  men,  with  a  front 
equal  to  the  width  of  the  road,  and  extending  nearly  half  a  mile  in  length,  pressed  on  with 
a  buoyancy  and  determination  of  spirit,  betokening  an  expectation  that  they  would  be  per¬ 
mitted  to  walk  into  our  works  without  much  opposition.  How  sad  the  disappointment  to 
the  victorious  veterans  of  so  many  bloody  fields  of  Europe !  So  perfect  was  the  motion  of 
the  troops  in  marching,  that  they  seemed  a  great  mass  of  living  matter  moved  by  some 
invisible  machinery.  Yet  I  can  now  almost  fancy  we  could  hear  them  cracking  their 
jokes,  and  each  claiming  for  himself  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  make  a  lodgment  in 
the  Yankee  forts  ;  when  suddenly,  with  the  noise  of  thunder,  the  sound  of  a  cannon 
came  booming  through  the  air.  It  sent  forth  a  round  shot  which  took  effect  near  the  centre 
of  the  front  platoon,  about  breast  high,  and  ploughed  its  Way  through,  sweeping  all  before 
it,  the  whole  length  of  the  column,  opening  a  space  apparently  several  feet  wide,  which, 
however,  was  immediately  closed,  as  if  by  magic  ;  and  on  the  column  pressed  as  if  nothing 
had  happened.  A  second  shot  was  fired  with  the  like  effect,  and  similar  consequences  ; 
but  when  the  third  discharge  came,  with  a  shower  of  grape-shot,  there  was  a  momentary 
confusion.  Immediately,  however,  the  charge  was  sounded  by  some  dozen  British  bugles  ; 
which  through  the  clear  and  bland  atmosphere  of  a  bright  September  morning,  was  the 
most  thrilling  and  spirit-stirring  sound  that  could  greet  a  soldier’s  ears.  In  an  instant  of 
time,  the  men  forming  the  advance  of  the  column  had  thrown  their  knapsacks  on  either 
side  the  road,  and  bringing  their  pieces  to  the  charge,  advanced  in  double  quick  time  upon 
our  miniature  battery. 

“  Our  troops  being  at  length  compelled  to  retire,  contested  every  inch  of  ground,  until 
they  reached  the  south  bank  of  the  Saranac,  where  the  enemy  attempted  to  pursue  them, 
but  was  repulsed  with  loss.  The  loss  of  the  British  in  this  skirmish,  was  Col.  Wellington, 

10 


74 


CLINTON  COUNTY. 


and  a  Lieut,  of  the  3d  Buffs,  and  two  Lieuts.  of  the  58th,  killed ;  and  one  Capt.  and  one 
Lieut,  of  the  58th  light  company  wounded,  together  with  about  100  privates  killed  and 
wounded,  while  that  on  our  part  did  not  exceed  25.  The  corps  of  riflemen  under  Col. 
Appling,  and  detachment  under  Capt.  Sproul,  fell  back  from  their  position  at  Dead  creek 
in  time  to  join  the  militia  and  regulars  just  before  they  entered  the  village,  and  fought  with 
their  accustomed  bravery.  The  British  got  possession  of  that  part  of  the  village  north  of 
the  Saranac  about  11  o’clock,  but  the  incessant  and  well-directed  fire  of  our  artillery  and 
musketry  from  the  forts  and  opposite  banks,  compelled  them  to  retire  before  night  beyond 
the  reach  of  our  guns.’  The  bridge  in  the  village  was'  defended  during  this  day  by  Capt. 
Martin  I.  Aikin’s  company*  of  volunteers,  who  were  stationed  in  the  saw-mill  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  river  for  that  purpose.  The  enemy  arrived  towards  night  with  his  heavy  artil¬ 
lery  and  baggage  on  the  lake  road,  and  crossed  the  beach,  where  he  met  with  a  warm  re¬ 
ception  from  our  row-galleys ;  and  it  is  believed,  suffered  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wound¬ 
ed.  On  our  side,  Lieut.  Duncan  of  the  navy  lost  an  arm  by  a  rocket,  and  3  or  4  men  were 
killed  by  the  enemy’s  artillery.  The  enemy  encamped  on  the  ridge  west  of  the  town,  his 
right  near  the  river,  and  occupying  an  extent  of  nearly  3  miles,  his  left  resting  on  the  lake 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  village.  From  the  6th  until  the  morning  of  the  11th,  an  almost 
continual  skirmishing  was  kept  up  between  the  enemy’s  pickets  and  our  militia  and  volun¬ 
teers  stationed  on  the  river,  and  in  the  mean  time  both  armies  were  busily  engaged — ours 
in  strengthening  the  works  of  the  forts,  and  that  of  the  enemy  in  erecting  batteries,  collect¬ 
ing  ladders,  bringing  up  his  heavy  ordnance,  and  making  other  preparations  for  attacking 
the  forts.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  a  body  of  the  enemy  under  Capt.  Noadie,  attempted 
to  cross  at  the  upper  bridge  about  7  miles  west  of  the  village,  but  were  met  by  Capt. 
Vaughn’s  company  of  about  25  men,  and  compelled  to  retire  with  the  loss  of  two  killed,  and 
several  wounded.  On  the  morning  of  the  11th,  the  enemy’s  fleet  came  round  the  Head 
with  a  tight  breeze  from  the  north,  and  attacked  ours  which  lay  at  anchor  in  Cumberland 
bay,  two  miles  from  shore  east  of  the  fort. 

“  ‘  The  enemy  commenced  a  simultaneous  bombardment  of  our  works  from  7  batteries, 
from  which  several  hundred  shells  and  rockets  were  discharged,  which  did  us  very  little 
injury ;  and  our  artillery  had  nearly  succeeded  in  silencing  them  all  before  the  contest  on 
the  lake  was  decided. 

“  ‘  The  enemy  attempted  at  the  same  time  to  throw  his  main  body  in  the  rear  of  the  fort, 
by  crossing  the  river  3  miles  west  of  the  town,  near  the  site  of  Pike’s  cantonment.  He 
succeeded  in  crossing,  after  a  brave  resistance  by  the  Essex  militia  and  a  few  of  the  Ver¬ 
mont  volunteers,  in  all  about  350,  stationed  at  that  place,  who  retired  back  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  river,  continually  pouring  in  upon  them  an  incessant  fire  from  behind  every 
tree,  until  Lieut.  Sumpter  brought  up  a  piece  of  artillery  to  their  support,  when  the  enemy 
commenced  a  precipitate  retreat. 

“  ‘  The  Vermont  volunteers,  who  had  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action  on  the  first  alarm, 
fell  upon  the  enemy’s  left  flank,  and  succeeded  in  making  many  prisoners,  including  3  officers. 

“  ‘  Had  the  British  remained  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  30  minutes  longer,  he  must 
have  lost  nearly  the  whole  detachment  that  crossed.  Our  loss  in  this  affair  was  five  killed 
and  eight  or  ten  wounded,  some  mortally. 

“  ‘  Immediately  on  ascertaining  the  loss  of  the  fleet,  Sir  George  Prevost  ordered  prepara¬ 
tions  to  be  made  for  the  retreat  of  the  army,  and  set  off  himself,  with  a  small  escort,  for 
Canada,  a  little  after  noon.  The  main  body  of  the  enemy,  with  the  artillery  and  baggage, 
were  taken  off  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  rear  guard,  consisting  of  the  light  brigade,  started  at 
daybreak  and  made  a  precipitate  retreat ;  leaving  their  wounded  and  a  large  quantity  of  pro¬ 
visions,  fixed  ammunition,  shot,  shells,  and  other  public  stores,  in  the  different  places  of 
deposit  about  their  camp.  They  were  pursued  some  distance  by  our  troops,  and  many 
prisoners  taken ;  but  owing  to  the  very  heavy  and  incessant  rain,  we  were  compelled  to 
return.  The  enemy  lost  upon  land  more  than  1,000  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners, 
and  deserters,  while  our  aggregate  loss  did  not  exceed  150.’  ” 

The  following  account  of  the  naval  action  is  from  “  Perkins’  His¬ 
tory  of  the  late  War.” 

“  The  American  fleet,  under  Commodore  McDonough,  lay  at  anchor  in  the  bay,  on  the 
right  flank  of  the  American  lines,  and  two  miles  distant.  Great  exertions  had  been  made 


“This  company  was  composed  of  young  men  and  boys  of  the  village,  most  of  whom  were  not  subject  to 
n»">ary  duly,  who  volunteered  after  the  militia  had  gone  out  on  the  Chazy  road,  offered  their  services  to 
Uen.  Macomb,  who  accepted  their  offer,  armed  the  company  with  rifles,  and  ordered  them  to  repair  to  the 
head-quarters  of  Gen.  Mooers,  and  report  for  duty.”  Three  only,  it  is  said,  of  the  members  of  this  corps 
were  over  18  years  of  age. 


CLINTON  COUNTY. 


75 


by  both  parties  to  produce  a  superior  naval  force  on  this  lake ;  the  Americans  at  Otter 
creek,  and  the  British  at  the  Isle  aux  Noix.  On  comparing  their  relative  strength  on  the 
11th  of  September,  the  American  fleet  consisted  of  the  Saratoga,  flag-ship,  mounting  26 
guns  ;  Eagle,  20  guns  ;  Ticonderoga,  17  guns  ;  Preble,  7  guns  ;  6  galleys,  of  2  guns  each, 
12  guns ;  4  of  1,4  guns:  making  in  the  whole  86  guns,  and  820  men.  The  British 
fleet  consisted  of  the  frigate  Confiance,  flag-ship,  mounting  39  guns;  Linnet,  16  guns; 
Cherub,  11  guns  ;  Finch,  11  guns  ;  5  galleys  of  2  guns  each,  10  guns ;  8  of  1,  8  guns  : 
making  in  the  whole  95  guns,  and  1,020  men. 

“  The  British  land  forces  employed  themselves  from  the  7th  to  the  11th,  in  bringing  up 
their  heavy  artillery,  and  strengthening  their  works  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Saranac. 
Their  fortified  encampment  was  on  a  ridge  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  town,  their  right  near 
the  river,  and  their  left  resting  on  the  lake,  1  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  village.  Having  deter¬ 
mined  on  a  simultaneous  attack  by  land  and  water,  they  lay  in  this  position  on  the  morning 
of  the  11th,  waiting  the  approach  of  their  fleet.  At  8  o’clock,  the  wished-for  ships  appear¬ 
ed  under  easy  sail,  moving  round  Cumberland  head  ;  and  were  hailed  with  joyous  acclama¬ 
tions.  At  9,  they  anchored  within  300  yards  of  the  American  squadron  in  line  of  battle ; 
the  Confiance  opposed  to  the  Saratoga,  the  Linnet  to  the  Eagle  ;  13  British  galleys  to  the 
Ticonderoga,  Preble,  and  a  division  of  the  American  galleys.  The  Cherub  assisting  the 
Confiance  and  Linnet,  and  the  Fiifch  aiding  the  galleys.  In  this  position,  the  weather 
being  perfectly  clear  and  calm,  and  the  bay  smooth,  the  whole  force  on  both  sides  became 
at  once  engaged.*  At  an  hour  and  a  half  after  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the  star* 
board  guns  of  the  Saratoga  were  nearly  all  dismantled.  The  commandant  ordered  a  stem 
anchor  to  be  dropped,  and  the  bower  cable  cut,  by  means  of  which  the  ship  rounded  to, 
and  presented  a  fresh  broadside  to  her  enemy.  The  Confiance  attempted  the  same  ope¬ 
ration  and  failed.  This  was  attended  with  such  powerful  effects,  that  she  was  obliged  to 
surrender  in  a  few  minutes.  The  whole  broadside  of  the  Saratoga  was  then  brought  to 
bear  on  the  Linnet,  and  in  15  minutes  she  followed  the  example  of  her  flag-ship.  One  of 
the  British  sloops  struck  to  the  Eagle  ;  3  galleys  were  sunk,  and  the  rest  made  off ;  no  ship 
in  the  fleet  being  in  a  condition  to  follow  them,  they  escaped  down  the  lake.  There  was 
no  mast  standing  in  either  squadron,  at  the  close  of  the  action,  to  which  a  sail  could  be 
attached.  The  Saratoga  received  55  round  shot  in  her  hull,  and  the  Confiance  105.  The 
action  lasted  without  any  cessation,  on  a  smooth  sea,  at  close  quarters,  2  hours  and  20 
minutes.  In  the  American  squadron  52  were  killed,  and  58  wounded.  In  the  British,  84 
were  killed,  and  110  wounded.  Among  the  slain  was  the  British  commandant,  Com. 
Downie.  This  engagement  was  in  full  view  of  both  armies,  and  of  numerous  spectators 
collected  on  the  heights,  bordering  on  the  bay,  to  witness  the  scene.  It  was  viewed  by  the 
inhabitants  with  trembling  anxiety,  as  success  on  the  part  of  the  British  would  have  opened 
to  them  an  easy  passage  into  the  heart  of  the  country,  and  exposed  a  numerous  population 
on  the  borders  of  the  lake  to  British  ravages.  When  the  flag  of  the  Confiance  was  struck, 
the  shores  resounded  with  the  acclamations  of  the  American  troops  and  citizens.  The 
British,  when  they  saw  their  fleet  completely  conquered,  were  dispirited  and  confounded.” 

“  A  short  distance  from  the  village,  are  the  ruins  of  the  cantonment  and  breastworks 
occupied  by  Gen.  Macomb  and  his  troops.  A  mile  north,  is  shown  the  house  held  by  Gen. 
Prevost,  as  his  head-quarters,  during  the  siege  ;  between  which  and  the  village  the  marks 
of  cannon-shot  on  the  trees  and  other  objects  are  still  visible.  Further  onward  about  5 
miles,  on  a  hill  overlooking  the  village  of  Beekmantown,  is  the  spot  where  a  sanguinary 
engagement  took  place  between  the  American  and  British  troops,  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  the  British  Col.  Wellington,  and  several  men  of  both  armies.” — Gordon’s  Gaz. 


*  “  I  will  mention  one  circumstance  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  frame  of  mind  in  which  the  brave 
McDonough  entered  the  battle,  and  in  whom  he  put  his  trust  for  success.  After  the  enemy’s  fleet  hove  in 
sight,  the  men  of  his  ship  were  assembled  on  the  quarter-deck,  when  he  kneeled  down,  and  in  humble, 
and  fervent  prayer,  commended  himself,  his  men,  and  the  cause  in  which  they  were  engaged,  to  the  God 
of  Battles,  and  arose  from  that  posture,  with  a  calmness  and  serenity  depicted  on  his  brow,  which 
showed  he  had  received  comfort  and  assurance  from  above.  One  other  little  incident,  and  I  will  proceed 
with  my  subject.  During  the  hottest  part  of  the  battle,  the  hen-coop  was  shot  away,  when  a  cock  es¬ 
caped  and  flew  up  into  the  rigging,  flapped  his  wings,  and  crowed  most  manfully  !  The  sailors  consid¬ 
ered  this  as  a  sure  omen  of  success,  and,  cheering  from  one  end  of  the  ship  to  the  other,  went  to  their 
work  of  dealing  death  to  the  enemy  with  redoubled  exertion.  The  cock  remained  in  the  rigging  during 
the  whole  of  the  engagement,  ever  and  anon  cheering  the  men  on  to  a  greater  exertion  by  his  clear 
shrill  voice.” — Oen.  Slcinner’s  account  of  the  Battle  of  Plattsburg. 


76 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 


Columbia  county,  taken  from  Albany  in  1786  :  its  greatest  length 
on  the  E.  line  36,  medium  breadth  18  miles.  Centrally  distant  N. 
from  New  York  125,  from  Albany,  SE.,  34  miles.  The  surface  of 
the  county  is  considerably  diversified,  though  no  part  can  be  called 
mountainous.  Ranges  of  small  hillocks  are  interspersed  with  exten¬ 
sive  plains  or  valleys,  and  much  of  rich  alluvion.  There  are  some 
excellent  lands,  and  much  of  the  larger  portion  may  be,  by  judicious 
culture,  rendered  highly  productive.  Nature,  in  the  abundant  beds  of 
lime,  has  furnished  the  means,  as  if  by  a  special  providence,  of  tem¬ 
pering  the  cold  and  ungrateful  constituents  of  the  clay  ;  and  in  many 
places  the  lime  in  the  form  of  marl  does  not  require  burning  to  become 
a  stimulant.  Scarce  any  portion  of  the  state  is  better  adapted  to  the 
raising  of  sheep,  and  the  profits  from  this  source,  already  great,  are 
yearly  increasing.  This  county  is  famed  for  the  quantity  and  quality 
of  its  Indian  corn.  Lead  and  iron  ore  are  found  in  this  county.  It  is 
divided  into  19  towns  : 


Ancram, 

Austerlitz, 

Canaan, 

Chatham, 

Claverac.k, 


Clermont, 

Copake, 

Gallatin, 

Germantown, 

Ghent, 


Greenport, 
Hillsdale, 
Hudson  City, 
Kinderhook, 
Livingston, 


New  Lebanon, 
Stockport, 
Stuyvesant, 
Taghkanic. 


Hudson,  the  capital  of  Columbia  county,  is  situated  on  the  E.  bank 
of  Hudson  river,  116  miles  from  New  York,  29  from  Albany,  and  28 
from  West  Stockbridge,  Mass.  Lat.  42°  14'  N.,  long.  14'  E.  from 
New  York.  The  city  is  finely  situated  on  an  elevation  of  about  50 
feet  above  the  Hudson,  the  western  part  of  which  is  a  bold  cliff  or  pro¬ 
montory  projecting  into  the  river,  more  than  60  feet  high.  The  prin¬ 
cipal  part  of  the  city  is  built  on  a  street  one  mile  long,  extending  in  a 
straight  line  from  the  foot  of  Prospect  Hill,  to  the  promenade  on  the 
extremity  of  the  cliff.  Nearly  all  the  streets  intersect  each  other  at 
right  angles,  except  near  the  river,  where  they  conform  to  the  shape 
of  the  ground.  The  promenade  at  the  western  extremity,  and  fronting 
the  principal  street,  commands  a  beautiful  view  of  the  river,  the  vil¬ 
lage  of  Athens  opposite,  the  country  beyond,  and  the  towering  Catskill 
mountains.  The  bay  south  of  the  city  is  locked  in  by  a  lofty  emi¬ 
nence,  anciently  termed  Rorabuck,  now  called  Mount  Merino ,  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  there  being  a  sheep  farm  established  here  some  years 
since.  The  city  contains  5  churches — 1  Presbyterian,  1  Episcopal,  1 
Baptist,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Universalist.  There  is  an  academy,  a 
number  of  classical  schools,  the  Hudson  Lunatic  Asylum,  a  private 
hospital  for  the  reception  and  cure  of  lunatics,  1  bank,  and  3  printing- 
offices.  An  elegant  courthouse  has  been  recently  erected.  Water  is 
brought  in  subterranean  pipes  from  the  foot  of  Becraft’s  mountain  for 
the  use  of  the  city.  Pop.  in  1850,  6,214. 


SOUTH  EASTERN  VIEW  OF  HUDSON  CITY,  N.  Y,  FROM  ACADEMY,  OR  PROSPECT  HILL. 

piincipal  street  in  Hudson,  one  mile  in  length,  is  seen  in  the  central  part  of  the  engraving.  The  village  of  Athens  appears  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  Hudson ;  the  Catskill  mountains  are  seen  in  the  extreme  distance  on  the  left. 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 


77 


Hudson  was  founded  in  1783,  by  enterprising  men  of  property  from 
Rhode  Island  and  Nantucket,  of  the  names  of  Jenkins,  Paddock,  Bar¬ 
nard,  Coffin,  Thurston,  Greene,  Minturn,  Lawrence,  and  others,  in  all 
thirty  persons.  About  twenty  of  this  company,  in  the  early  part  of 
1783,  sailed  up  the  Hudson  to  find  some  navigable  situation  on  which 
to  commence  a  new  settlement.  They  selected  and  purchased  the  site 
on  which  the  city  now  stands,  which  at  that  time  was  occupied  as  a 
farm,  with  a  single  store-house  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  In  the  fall  of 
this  year,  two  families  arrived  and  commenced  a  settlement.  In  the 
spring  of  1784,  the  other  proprietors  arrived,  bringing  with  them  seve¬ 
ral  vessels  ;  they  were  soon  followed  by  other  emigrants  from  the  east¬ 
ward.  Between  the  spring  of  1784  and  that  of  1786,  there  were  150 
dwelling-houses  erected,  besides  wharves,  warehouses,  shops,  barns, 
&c.,  and  several  works  connected  with  manufactures  ;  and  the  popu¬ 
lation  had  increased  to  1,500  persons.  In  1795,  Mr.  Ashbel  Stoddard 
removed  from  Connecticut,  established  a  printing-office,  and  issued  a 
weekly  paper,  the  “  Hudson  Gazette.” 

Hudson  was  incorporated  a  city  in  1785.  At  this  period  about 
twenty-five  vessels  were  owned  in  the  place,  which  were  mostly  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  West  India  trade  ;  a  few  were  engaged  in  the  whale  and 
seal  fishery,  which  was  carried  on  with  considerable  success,  and  Hud¬ 
son  rapidly  increased  in  wrealth  and  population.  During  the  revolu¬ 
tionary  struggle  in  France,  and  the  long  protracted  war  in  Europe,  such 
was  the  demand  for  neutral  vessels,  and  such  the  high  prices  of  freight, 
that  the  vessels  owned  here  were  engaged  in  the  carrying  trade.  This 
trade  was  not  long  enjoyed,  for  British  orders  in  council  and  French 
decrees  swept  many  of  them  from  their  owners.  Other  losses  follow¬ 
ed  by  shipwreck,  and  the  embargo,  non-intercourse,  and  the  war 
which  succeeded,  almost  finished  the  prosperity  of  Hudson.  The  city 
was  a  port  of  entry  till  1815.  The  immense  losses  at  sea  produced 
much  embarrassment  and  many  failures,  and  kept  the  place  in  a  state 
of  depression  for  a  considerable  period.  From  this  depression  it  is 
gradually  and  steadily  advancing.  The  Hudson  and  Berkshire  rail¬ 
road  proceeds  from  this  city,  across  the  route  of  the  New  York  and 
Albany  railroad,  31  miles  to  the  west  line  of  Massachusetts  at  West 
Stockbridge,  whence  it  is  continued  for  two  miles,  till  it  unites  with 
the  great  western  railroad  of  that  state. 

Valatie  is  a  large  manufacturing  village  14  miles  N.  from  Hudson, 
at  the  junction  of  the  Valatie  and  Kinderhook  creeks.  It  has  4  exten¬ 
sive  cotton  mills,  besides  other  manufacturing  establishments  ;  it  con¬ 
tains  about  300  dwellings,  and  1,700  inhabitants.  The  village  of  Kin¬ 
derhook  is  12  miles  N.  of  Hudson,  5  E.  from  the  river,  and  is  finely  situ¬ 
ated  on  a  level  plain.  It  has  several  churches,  an  academy  in  high 
repute,  a  bank,  and  upwards  of  100  dwellings.  It  is  distinguished  as 
the  birthplace  and  residence  of  ex-president  Van  Buren. 


78 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 


Lebanon  Springs  village  is  25  miles  from  Albany,  32  NE.  from 
Hudson.  There  are  here  about  35  dwellings,  and  several  taverns  for 
the  accommodation  of  visiters  at  the  spring.  The  spring  is  ten  feet  in 
diameter  and  four  deep,  and  discharges  water  sufficient  to  turn  several 
mills  near  its  source.  The  water  is  tasteless,  inodorous,  and  soft,  and 
is  deemed  beneficial  in  internal  obstructions,  salt-rheum,  and  cutaneous 
affections  generally.  The  place  is  much  resorted  to  for  health  and 
amusement.  The  surrounding  country  is  salubrious  and  picturesque. 
New  Lebanon  is  a  small  settlement,  one  mile  and  a  half  SE.  of  the 
spring. 


Shaker  Buildings  in  New  Lebanon. 

New  Lebanon,  Shaker  village,  called  by  its  inhabitants  the  vdlage 
of  the  “  Millennial  Church ,”  is  two  and  a  half  miles  S.  of  the  spring, 
on  the  western  side  of  tfye  Taghkanic  mountain,  and  contains  about 
six  hundred  inhabitants.  The  annexed  view  shows  one  of  their 
dwellings,  (containing  a  family  of  150  persons,)  and  their  meeting¬ 
house,  which  was  erected  in  1823.  This  place  of  worship  is  some¬ 
what  singular  in  its  construction.  It  is  eighty  feet  long  by  sixty-five 
wide,  all  in  one  room,  without  beams  or  pillars,  having  a  domical  roof 
covered  with  tin  ;  and  a  porch  thirty-four  by  twenty-seven  feet,  roofed 
and  covered  the  same  way.  The  building  is  of  wood,  but  the  founda¬ 
tion  and  flights  of  steps  are  of  marble. 

“  This  edifice,”  says  a  visiter,  “  stands  in  a  beautiful  grass  plat,  in 
the  centre  of  the  village.  There  are  no  seats  in  the  house,  except  for 
spectators  of  their  worship.  Their  stone  walls  and  other  fences  are 
constructed  with  the  utmost  regularity  and  precision,  and  their  gate¬ 
posts  are  of  massive  marble  columns,  of  many  tons  weight.  They 
manufacture  a  great  variety  of  articles  for  sale,  which  are  remarka¬ 
ble  for  their  neatness  and  durability ;  and,  in  short,  their  farms,  their 
gardens,  their  manufactories,  and  houses,  all  exhibit  the  pleasing  effects 
of  industry  and  rural  economy.  Indeed,  they  are  one  independent 
community ; — their  property  is  all  held  in  common,  and  ‘  nowhere,’ 
says  Professor  Silliman,  ‘  in  any  community,  can  the  moralist,  the 
philosopher,  or  the  statesman,  see  such  a  demonstration  of  the  power 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 


79 


of  industry  and  economy.’  They  cheerfully  pay  their  proportion  of 
the  public  taxes,  and  share  all  the  burdens  of  government  except  the 
bearing  of  arms,  which  they  deem  to  be  unlawful.  They  never  ask 
charity  for  any  purpose,  but  always  have  hands  and  hearts  to  give. 
We  were  conducted  through  the  whole  establishment  in  every  de¬ 
partment.  Their  internal  domestic  arrangement  is  excellent.  Their 
standing  motto  seems  to  be,  to  save  time  and  labor,  and  all  their  va¬ 
rious  machines  and  utensils  are  constructed  to  this  end.  We  visited 
their  extensive  dairy,  their  washing-house,  mills  and  manufactories, 
all  of  which  evinced  the  most  consummate  skill  and  nicety.  We  also 
visited  their  school,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  hearty,  rosy- 
cheeked,  and  contented  children,  from  eight  to  fifteen  years  of  age. 
They  underwent  a  very  creditable  examination  in  the  various  branches 
of  astronomy,  grammar,  reading,  spelling,  arithmetic,  &c.,  and  gave 
us  the  most  satisfactory  proof  that  they  are  not  trained  up  in  igno¬ 
rance . As  far  as  our  observation  extended,  they  are  as  willing 

to  let  others  think  for  themselves,  as  they  are  to  cherish  their  own 
peculiarities  ;  and,  surely,  if  they  are  tolerant,  we  should  not  be  in¬ 
tolerant.  They  are,  indeed,  a  most  singular  people,  but  they  have 
many,  very  many,  excellent  qualities.  They  are  plain  in  their  de¬ 
portment  and  manners,  close  though  honest  in  their  dealings,  but  kind, 
benevolent,  and  hospitable  ;  and  they  remember  and  treasure  up 
every  kindness  shown  to  them.  In  short,  they  are  inoffensive,  quiet, 
and  valuable  citizens  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  idle,  and  even  abomi¬ 
nable  stories  that  have  been  put  forth  against  them,  after  close  obser¬ 
vation  for  many  years  past,  it  is  our  deliberate  conviction  that  among 
themselves  they  strictly  live  up  to  their  professions,  and  that  their  con¬ 
duct  and  morals  are  irreproachable.” 

The  society  own  about  2,000  acres  of  land  in  this  town,  and  about 
half  as  much  more  in  Hancock,  Mass.,  the  adjoining  town.  Within 
a  few  years  after  “  Mother  Ann,”  as  she  is  usually  called,  made  an 
establishment  at  Neskayuna,  another  was  begun  at  New  Lebanon, 
which  is  now  the  principal  Shaker  establishment  in  the  state.  Their 
religious  tenets  must,  of  course,  necessarily  affect  the  order  of  their 
societies,  by  producing  an  entire  separation  of  the  men  from  the  wo¬ 
men. 

The  leading  characteristic  in  the  worship  of  this  people,  is  their 
dancing.  This  they  describe  as  the  involuntary  result  of  the  exhilirat- 
ing  and  overpowering  delight  received  through  the  outpouring  of  di¬ 
vine  grace  upon  their  hearts.  The  evolutions  and  changes  in  the 
dance,  by  constant  practice,  become  as  precisely  correct  as  the  ma¬ 
noeuvres  of  a  regiment  of  experienced  soldiers  ;  it  becomes,  in  fact,  a 
mechanical  movement.  No  one  ever  makes  a  mistake,  or  throws  the 
rank  in  disorder  from  inattention  or  inexperience  ;  but  every  thing  is 
conducted  in  the  most  exact  order,  as  if  every  step  and  movement  of 
the  body  was  directed  by  a  gauge  and  rule.  Dances  are  sometimes 
held  in  private  houses,  when  variations  are  frequently  introduced. 
On  some  occasions,  it  is  said,  their  movements  are  so  rapid,  that  the 
eye  can  scarce  follow  or  keep  pace  with  their  swift  motions. 


80 


CORTLAND  COUNTY 


CORTLAND  COUNTY. 

Cortland  county,  taken  from  Onondaga  in  1808,  was  named  in 
honor  of  Gen.  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  who  was  a  large  landholder 
here :  centrally  distant  NW.  from  New  York,  200,  and  from  Al¬ 
bany,  W.,  145  miles.  This  county  forms  part  of  the  high  central 
section  of  the  state.  It  has  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  northern 
and  southern  waters  across  its  northern  and  western  borders.  It  is 
consequently  elevated.  Its  surface  is  composed  of  easy  hills  and 
broad  valleys,  giving  it  a  gently  waving  and  diversified  aspect.  The 
soil  is  generally  a  gravelly  loam,  rich  and  productive.  This  county 
comprises  four  whole  and  two  half  townships  of  the  tract  granted  by 
the  state  to  the  soldiers  of  the  revolution,  and  is  settled  chiefly  by 
emigrants  from  the  eastern  states.  It  is  divided  into  11  towns,  viz. : 
Cincinnatus,  Homer,  Scott,  Virgil, 

Cortlandville,  Marathon,  Solon,  Willett. 

Freetown,  Preble,  Truxton, 


Public  buildings  in  Cortland. 

Cortland,  the  county  seat,  is  140  miles  from  Albany.  The  first 
building  on  the  right  is  the  Methodist  church,  the  second  the  Academy, 
the  third  the  Presbyterian,  the  fourth  the  Baptist,  and  the  last  the 
Universalist  church.  The  courthouse  is  seen  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street.  The  village  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  laid  out  in  regular 
squares.  There  are  here  two  weekly  newspaper  offices  and  about  120 
dwellings,  some  of  them  being  fine  edifices. 

Homer  village,  the  largest  in  the  county,  is  beautifully  situated  upon 
a  plain,  upon  the  W.  bank  of  the  Tioughnioga  river  ;  from  Albany 
138  miles,  40  N.  from  Owego,  30  S.  from  Syracuse,  2s  N.  from  Cort¬ 
land  village.  The  Cortland  Academy  is  a  highly  flourishing  institu¬ 
tion,  having  a  collection  of  philosophical  apparatus  and  a  cabinet  of 
minerals.  The  public  buildings  are  upon  a  square  of  6  acres.  Homer 
was  incorporated  in  1825,  and  has  about  200  dwellings  and  4  churches. 


DELAWARE  COUNTY. 


81 


DELAWARE  COUNTY. 


Delaware  county,  formed  from  Ulster  and  Otsego  counties  in 
1797,  is  centrally  distant  from  New  York,  via  Cattskill,  166,  SW.  from 
Albany,  77  miles.  Greatest  length  NE.  and  SW.  60  ;  greatest  breadth 
SE.  and  NW.  37  miles. 

The  county  has  a  broken  and  diversified  surface — from  the  rugged, 
lofty,  and  barren  mountain  side  and  summit,  to  the  subsiding  hill  and 
the  high  and  low  plain,  with  the  rich  valley,  and  the  low  and  fertile 
alluvion.  Its  climate  is  subject  to  sudden  and  great  changes  of  tem¬ 
perature,  yet  not  unfriendly  to  health  and  longevity.  It  is  princi¬ 
pally  watered  by  the  northeastern  sources  of  the  Delaware  river. 
The  east  branch  of  the  Susquehannah,  another  large  stream  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  forms  a  part  of  the  northeastern  boundary,  as  does  the  Del¬ 
aware  a  part  of  its  southwestern.  The  Cookquago  branch  of  the 
Delaware,  or  the  true  Delaware,  as  it  ought  to  be  called,  runs  nearly 
centrally  through  the  county  from  NE.  to  SW. ;  the  Popacton  branch 
runs  nearly  parallel  with  this,  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  it. 
These  streams  with  their  branches,  and  many  smaller  streams,  spread 
plentifully  over  the  whole  county,  and  supply  a  vast  profusion  of  fine 
sites  for  mills.  The  quality  of  the  soil  is  as  various  as  the  surface. 
On  the  upland  there  is  a  large  proportion  of  chocolate-colored  loam, 
and  the  valleys  and  alluvial  flats  have  a  rich  mould.  The  whole  may 
be  pronounced  a  good  country  for  farming,  well  watered  by  small 
springs  and  rivulets.  The  heavy  trade  of  this  county  follows  the 
course  of  its  lumber,  which  goes  in  rafts  by  the  Delaware  and  Sus¬ 
quehannah  rivers  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  ;  while  considerable 
traffic  is  carried  on  with  the  towns  on  the  Hudson,  to  which  there 
are  turnpikes  in  various  directions.  The  value  of  the  wild  lands  in 
the  county  is  from  two  to  three  dollars  an  acre,  and  the  improved 
lands  in  the  valleys  average  about  30  dollars,  while  those  on  the  hills 
are  worth  about  5  dollars  the  acre.  West  of  the  Mohawk  branch 
of  the  Delaware,  the  county  was  divided  into  several  patents ;  but 
east  of  it  was  included  in  the  Hardenburgh  patent.  In  1768,  William, 
John,  Alexander,  and  Joseph  Harper,  with  eighteen  others,  obtained 
a  patent  here  for  22,000  acres  of  land,  and  soon  after  the  Harpers 
removed  from  Cherry  Valley,  and  made  a  settlement  which  was 
called  Harpersfield,  but  which  was  broken  up  by  the  Indians  and 
tories  during  the  revolutionary  war.  About  one  quarter  of  the  county 
is  under  improvement.  The  county  has  18  towns,  viz. : 

Andes,  Franklin,  Masonville,  Stamford, 

Bovina,  Hamden,  Meredith,  Tompkins, 

Colchester,  Hancock,  Middletown,  Walton. 

Davenport,  Harpersfield,  Roxbury, 

Kortright, 


Delhi, 


Sidney, 


The  annexed  view  of  Delhi  village,  the  county  seat,  was  taken  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  the  Delaware.  This  village  was  incorporated  in 
1821.  The  building  with  a  steeple  seen  on  the  extreme  right  is  a 

11 


82 


DELAWARE  COUNTY. 


Eastern  view  of  Delhi  Village. 


factory — the  spire  near  the  centre  of  the  view  is  that  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  the  one  to  the  left  the  Presbyterian,  and  the  cupolas  are  re¬ 
spectively  those  of  the  Courthouse,  Jail,  and  Academy.  The  village 
contains  about  100  dwellings,  situated  about  70  miles  westerly  from 
Kingston  and  Cattskill. 

Franklin  village  is  pleasantly  situated  16  miles  W.  of  Delhi,  60  S. 
from  Utica  ;  has  3  churches  and  about  100  dwellings,  and  “  The  Dela¬ 
ware  Literary  Institute ,”  incorporated  in  1835,  which  is  a  flourishing 
institution.  Deposit,  40  miles  SW.  of  Delhi,  is  a  village  of  about  100 
dwellings,  on  Delaware  river,  and  is  a  place  where  great  quantities  of 
lumber  are  deposited  to  float  down  the  river  to  market. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  Mr.  Campbell’s  interesting  and  val¬ 
uable  work,  entitled  “Annals  of  Tryon  County.” 

“  In  1768,  William,  John,  Alexander,  and  Joseph  Harper,  with  eighteen  other  individuals, 
obtained  a  patent  for  twenty-two  thousand  acres  of  land  lying  in  the  now  county  of  Dela¬ 
ware.  The  Harpers  removed  from  Cherry  Valley  soon  after,  and  made  a  settlement  there 
which  was  called  Harpersfield.  This  settlement  had  begun  to  flourish  at  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  the  war.  Col.  John  Harper  had  command  of  one  of  the  forts  in  Schoharie. 

“  The  following  account  of  a  successful  enterprise  of  Col.  Harper,  was  furnished  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Fenn,  who  received  the  information  from  him.  He  informed  me  that  in  the  year 
1777,  he  had  the  command  of  the  fort  in  Schoharie,  and  of  all  the  frontier  stations  in  this 
region.  He  left  the  fort  in  Schoharie,  and  came  out  through  the  woods  to  Harpersfield  in 
the  time  of  making  sugar,  and  from  thence  laid  his  course  for  Cherry  Valley  to  investigate 
the  state  of  things  there  ;  and  as  he  was  pursuing  a  blind  kind  of  Indian  trail,  and  was  as¬ 
cending  what  are  now  called  Decatur  Hills,  he  cast  his  eye  forward,  and  saw  a  company  of 
men  coming  directly  towards  him,  who  had  the  appearance  of  Indians.  He  knew  that  if 
he  attempted  to  flee  from  them  they  would  shoot  him  down ;  he  resolved  to  advance  right 
up  to  them,  and  make  the  best  shift  for  himself  he  could.  As  soon  as  he  came  near  enough 
to  discern  the  white  of  their  eyes,  he  knew  the  head  man  and  several  others  ;  the  head 
man’s  name  was  Peter,  an  Indian  with  whom  Col.  Harper  had  often  traded  at  Oquago  be¬ 
fore  the  revolution  began.  The  colonel  had  his  great-coat  on,  so  that  his  regimentals  were 
concealed,  and  he  was  not  recognised  ;  the  first  word  of  address  of  Col.  Harper  was, 
‘  How  do  you  do,  brothers?’  The  reply  was,  ‘Well — how  do  you  do,  brother?  Which 
way  are  you  bound,  brother?’  ‘  On  a  secret  expedition  :  and  which  way  are  you  bound, 
brothers?’  ‘  Down  the  Susquehannah,  to  cut  oflFthe  Johnston  settlement.’  (Parson  John¬ 
ston  and  a  number  of  Scotch  families  had  settled  down  the  Susquehannah,  at  what  is 
now  called  Sidney’s  Plains,  and  these  were  the  people  whom  they  were  about  to  destroy.) 


DELAWARE  COUNTY. 


83 


Says  the  colonel,  ‘  Where  do  you  lodge  to-night  V  ‘  At  the  mouth  of  Schenevas  creek,’ 
was  the  reply.  Then  shaking  hands  with  them,  he  bid  them  good  speed,  and  proceeded 
on  his  journey. 

“  He  had  gone  but  a  little  way  from  them  before  he  took  a  circuit  through  the  woods,  a 
distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  on  to  the  head  of  Charlotte  river,  where  were  a  number  of 
men  making  sugar ;  ordered  them  to  take  their  arms,  two  days’  provisions,  a  canteen  of 
rum,  and  a  rope,  and  meet  him  down  the  Charlotte,  at  a  small  clearing  called  Evans’s  place, 
at  a  certain  hour  that  afternoon  ;  then  rode  with  all  speed  through  the  woods  to  Harpers- 
field  ;  collected  all  the  men  who  were  there  making  sugar,  and  being  armed  and  victualled, 
each  man  with  his  rope  laid  his  course  for  Charlotte  ;  when  he  arrived  at  Evans’s  place,  he 
found  the  Charlotte  men  there,  in  good  spirits  ;  and  when  he  mustered  his  men,  there  were 
fifteen,  including  himself,  exactly  the  same  number  as  there  were  of  the  enemy  ;  then  the 
colonel  made  his  men  acquainted  with  his  enterprise. 

“  They  inarched  down  the  river  a  little  distance,  and  then  bent  their  course  across  the 
hill  to  the  mouth  of  Schenevas  creek ;  when  they  arrived  at  the  brow  of  the  hill  where 
they  could  overlook  the  valley  where  the  Schenevas  flows,  they  cast  their  eyes  down  upon 
the  flat,  and  discovered  the  fire  around  which  the  enemy  lay  encamped.  ‘  There  they 
are,’  said  Col.  Harper.  They  descended  with  great  stillness,  forded  the  creek,  which  was 
breast-high  to  a  man ;  after  advancing  a  few  hundred  yards,  they  took  some  refreshment, 
and  then  prepared  for  the  contest.  Daylight  was  just  beginning  to  appear  in  the  east. 
When  they  came  to  the  enemy,  they  lay  in  a  circle  with  their  feet  towards  the  fire,  in  a 
deep  sleep  ;  their  arms  and  all  their  implements  of  death,  were  all  stacked  up  according  to 
the  Indian  custom  when  they  lay  themselves  down  for  the  night :  these  the  colonel  se¬ 
cured  by  carrying  them  off  a  distance,  and  laying  them  down  ;  then  each  man  taking  his 
rope  in  his  hand,  placed  himself  by  his  fellow  ;  the  colonel  rapped  his  man  softly,  and  said, 
‘  Come,  it  is  time  for  men  of  business  to  be  on  their  way  ;’  and  then  each  one  sprang  upon 
his  man,  and  after  a  most  severe  struggle  they  secured  the  whole  of  the  enemy. 

“  After  they  were  all  safely  bound,  and  the  morning  had  so  far  advanced  that  they  could 
discover  objects  distinctly,  says  the  Indian  Peter,  ‘  Ha  !  Col.  Harper!  now  I  know  thee — 
why  did  I  not  know  thee  yesterday  ?’  ‘  Some  policy  in  war,  Peter.’  *  Ah,  me  find  em 

so  now.’  The  colonel  marched  the  men  to  Albany,  delivered  them  up  to  the  commanding 
officer,  and  by  this  bold  and  well-executed  feat  of  valor  he  saved  the  whole  Scotch  settle¬ 
ment  from  a  wanton  destruction. 

“  Early  in  the  spring  of  1780,  a  party  of  tories  and  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Brant, 
destroyed  Harpersfield.  The  inhabitants  had  generally  left  the  place  ;  but  a  few  of  the 
men  were  at  the  time  engaged  in  making  maple  sugar.  Nineteen  were  taken  prisoners, 
and  several  killed.  A  consultation  was  held  in  the  Indian  language  in  presence  of  the 
prisoners  relative  to  a  contemplated  attack  upon  the  upper  fort,  in  Schoharie ;  the  Indians, 
satisfied  with  the  booty  and  prisoners  already  obtained,  were  unwilling  to  risk  any  thing 
in  an  uncertain  expedition  ;  some  of  the  tories  represented  the  plan  as  promising  success, 
and  advised  the  Indians  to  kill  the  prisoners,  that  they  might  not  be  encumbered  with  them. 
Brant  came  up  to  Capt.  Alexander  Harper,  one  of  the  prisoners,  and  drawing  his  sword, 
asked  him  if  there  were  any  troops  in  the  fort :  saying  his  life  should  be  taken  if  he  did 
not  inform  him  correctly.  Harper  knew  enough  of  the  Indian  language  to  have  learned 
the  subject  of  the  foregoing  conversation,  and  immediately  answered  that  it  was  well  gar¬ 
risoned,  believing  that  they  would  all  be  killed  should  he  answer  differently.  Another  pris¬ 
oner,  not  knowing  the  determination  of  the  Indians,  and  fearing  their  vengeance  should  the 
falsehood  be  detected,  stated  truly  that  there  were  few  if  any  troops  in  the  fort.  Harper 
insisted  that  his  statement  was  true  ;  he  was  believed,  and  they  returned  to  Niagara.  The 
last  night  of  their  journey  they  encamped  a  short  distance  from  the  fort.  In  the  morning 
the  prisoners  were  to  run  the  gauntlet.  Harper,  knowing  the  hostility  of  the  Indians  to¬ 
wards  him,  and  fearing  they  might  take  his  life,  requested  Brant  to  interfere  and  protect 
him,  which  he  promised  to  do.  The  Indians  arranged  themselves  in  two  parallel  lines, 
facing  inward,  with  clubs  and  whips  in  their  hands. 

“  Harper  was  selected  first ;  he  was  a  tall,  athletic  man,  and  on  the  first  signal  sprang 
from  the  mark  with  extraordinary  swiftness.  An  Indian  near  the  end  of  the  line,  fearing 
he  might  escape  with  little  injury,  stepped  before  him  ;  Harper  struck  him  a  blow  with  his  fist, 
and  then  springing  over  him,  ran  towards  the  fort ;  the  Indians,  enraged,  broke  their  ranks 
and  followed  him.  The  garrison,  who  had  been  apprized  of  the  movements  of  the  Indians, 
were  upon  the  walls  when  they  saw  Harper  approaching  ;  they  threw  open  the  gate,  and 
he  rushed  in,  when  they  immediately  closed  it.  It  was  with  difficulty  they  could  keep 
the  Indians  back.  The  other  prisoners  took  different  courses,  and  got  into  the  fort  without 
passing  through  this,  if  not  fiery,  yet  bloody  ordeal.” 


84 


DUTCHESS  COUNTY. 


DUTCHESS  COUNTY. 


Dutchess  county  was  organized  in  1683.  It  is  on  the  E.  side  of 
the  Hudson  river,  75  miles  S.  of  Albany,  and  74  N.  of  New  York. 
Greatest  length  N.  and  S.  38,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  26  miles. 
This  county  is  one  of  the  most  opulent  in  the  state,  though  its  area 
has  been  reduced  by  the  erection  of  the  small  county  of  Putnam  from 
its  southern  end.  Along  the  eastern  border  towns  there  are  ranges 
of  hills  called  the  Fishkill  or  Matteawan  mountains.  Along  the  west¬ 
ern  borders  of  these,  the  surface  is  tossed  into  ridges  and  valleys, 
knolls  and  dales,  fancifully  diversified,  producing  a  great  variety  of 
position,  of  soil  and  aspect,  and  a  multitude  of  brooks  and  springs. 
In  the  southern  part  are  some  of  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Highlands. 
That  called  the  Old  Beacon,  two  miles  from  Matteawan  village,  and 
three  from  Fishkill  Landing,  raises  its  crest  1,471  feet,  and  the  New 
Beacon,  or  Grand  Sachem,  half  a  mile  southward,  towers  1,685  above 
tide.  Their  names  are  derived  from  the  Beacons  placed  on  their 
summits  during  the  revolution.  From  the  top  of  the  latter,  the  view 
on  the  S.  embraces  the  country  upon  the  Hudson,  for  25  miles  to 
Tappan  bay ;  on  the  SE.  includes  Long  Island  and  the  Sound  ;  and 
upon  the  NE.  and  W.  comprehends  in  the  diameter  of  a  circle,  50 
miles  in  extent,  scenery  of  every  diversity,  blending  the  beauties  of 
cultivation  with  the  stern  and  unchangeable  features  of  nature.  The 
principal  streams  are  the  Hudson  river  on  its  western  boundary,  Ten 
Mile,  Fishkill,  and  Wappinger’s  creeks.  As  a  whole,  the  county  is 
highly  fertile,  producing  abundantly  wheat,  rye,  corn,  oats,  and  grass, 
and  an  immense  amount  of  produce  is  annually  exported  to  New  York. 
This  county  is  divided  into  18  towns,  viz. : 

Amenia,  Hyde  Park,  Pine  Plains,  Stanford, 


Beekman,  La  Grange, 

Clinton,  Milan, 

Dover,  Northeast, 

Fishkill,  Pawlings, 


Pleasant  Valley,  Union  Vale, 
Poughkeepsie,  Washington. 
Redhook, 

Rhinebeck, 


Poughkeepsie  was  organized  in  1788:  its  name  is  said  to  have 
been  derived  from  the  Indian  word  Apokeepsing,  signifying  safe  har¬ 
bor.  The  face  of  the  country  along  the  Hudson  river  is  somewhat 
broken,  but  the  general  surface  is  but  moderately  uneven.  Pop. 
10,006.  The  village  of  Poughkeepsie,  one  of  the  most  thriving  and 
substantial  places  in  the  state,  was  first  founded  by  a  number  of 
Dutch  families  somewhere  about  the  year  1700.  Being  situated 
about  half  way  between  New  York  and  Albany,  it  occasionally  be¬ 
came,  in  early  periods  of  its  history,  the  place  of  legislative  deliberations. 
The  convention  which  met  to  deliberate  on  the  Federal  Constitution, 
and  voted  for  its  adoption,  met  in  this  place  in  1788.  The  annexed 
engraving,  taken  from  one  published  in  the  Family  Magazine,  Dec. 
1838,  is  a  representation  of  the  first  house  erected  in  this  place.  It 


WESTERN  VIEW  OF  POUGHKEEPSIE,  N.  Y. 

The  above  shows  the  appearance  of  Poughkeepsie,  as  seen  from  the  elevated  bank  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  a  short  distance  below 
New  Paltz  landing.  The  Hotel  at  the  Steamboat  landing,  is  seen  on  the  extreme  right. 


DUTCHESS  COUNTY. 


85 


Van  Kleek  House. 


was  built  in  the  year  1702,  by  Myndert  Van  Kleek,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Dutchess  county.  The  house  and  grounds  attached  are 
still  in  possession  of  his  descendants.  It  belonged  to  Matthew  Vas- 
sar,  Esq.,  in  1835,  the  year  in  which  this  house  was  demolished. 
The  distant  building  seen  on  the  left,  is  that  of  the  old  brewery :  this 
ancient  edifice  exhibited  its  port-holes,  a  feature  so  common  in  the 
buildings  of  the  early  settlers,  they  being  necessary  for  defence  against 
the  original  possessors  of  the  soil.  In  1787,  this  building,  then  a 
public  house  of  some  note,  was  used  as  a  stadt-house  ;  the  eleventh 
session  of  the  legislature  of  this  state  was  held  therein.  George 
Clinton  was  then  governor  of  the  state,  and  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt, 
afterward  mayor  of  New  York,  lieutenant-governor. 

Poughkeepsie  is  by  the  river,  70  miles  from  Albany,  75  from 
New  York,  18  from  Kingston,  14  from  Newburg,  and  42  from  Hud¬ 
son.  Population  of  the  village  in  1840,  was  7,710.  The  central  part 
of  the  village  is  nearly  a  mile  from  the  landing  place  on  the  Hudson, 
standing  on  an  elevated  plain  about  200  feet  from  the  river.  Several 
roads  conveniently  graded,  and  the  principal  one  paved,  lead  from 
the  shore  to  the  plain  above,  which,  on  the  north,  is  overlooked  by  a 
beautiful  slate  hill,  from  which  is  a  commanding  prospect  of  the  adja¬ 
cent  country.  The  Fall  creek  or  kill  meanders  through  the  plain  on 
which  the  village  is  built,  and  finally  passes  into  the  Hudson  by  a 
succession  of  cataracts  and  cascades,  which  together  fall  more  than 
160  feet,  affording  water-power  for  a  number  of  mills  and  factories. 
There  are  13  churches,  viz. :  1  Dutch  Reformed,  2  Episcopal,  2  Meth¬ 
odist,  2  Friend,  1  Baptist,  1  Catholic,  1  Congregational,  1  Presbyte¬ 
rian,  1  Universalist,  and  1  African.  There  are  3  banks,  5  newspaper 
offices,  and  a  variety  of  manufacturing  establishments.  Within  the 
limits  of  the  village  are  12  male  and  female  schools,  all  of  which  are 
of  a  superior  order.  Pop.  in  1850,  13,944. 


86 


DUTCHESS  COUNTY. 


Poughkeepsie  Collegiate  School. 


The  above  is  a  representation  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Collegiate 
School,  erected  on  the  summit  of  an  elevated  hill  about  a  mile  from 
the  Hudson,  and  half  a  mile  northward  from  the  business  part  of  the 
village.  This  structure  is  modelled  after  the  Parthenon  at  Athens,  and 
is  35  by  115  feet  in  size,  exclusive  of  the  colonnade  ;  inclusive,  77  by 
137  feet.  It  cost,  exclusive  of  the  ground,  about  forty  thousand  dol¬ 
lars.  This  institution  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  pupils  in  Nov., 
1836,  under  the,  superintendence  of  Mr.  Charles  Bartlett,  assisted  by 
eight  competent  teachers.  During  the  first  term,  there  were  50  pu¬ 
pils  ;  the  second,  84;  the  third,  94;  and  the  fourth  term,  108.  “  Its 

situation  is  truly  a  noble  one  ;  standing  on  an  eminence  commanding 
an  extensive  view  of  almost  every  variety  of  feature  necessary  to  the 
perfection  of  a  beautiful  landscape.  From  the  colonnade,  which  en¬ 
tirely  surrounds  it,  the  eye  of  the  spectator  can  compass  a  circuit  of 
nearly  fifty  miles  :  on  the  south,  at  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  the 
Highlands  terminate  the  view,  within  which  an  apparent  plain  stretches 
to  their  base,  covered  with  highly  cultivated  farms,  neat  mansions,  and 
thriving  villages.  Similar  scenery  meets  the  eye  on  the  east,  but  more 
undulating.  On  the  west  and  north,  the  Hudson  rolls  on  in  its  pride 
and  beauty,  dotted  with  the  sails  of  inland  commerce  and  numerous 
steamboats,  all  laden  with  products  of  industry  and  busy  men.  In  the 
dim  distance,  the  azure  summits  of  the  Cattskill,  reared  to  the  clouds, 
stretch  away  to  the  north,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  where  the  far-famed 
‘  Mountain  House’  is  distinctly  seen,  like  a  pearl,  in  its  mountain  crest, 
at  an  elevation  of  nearly  three  thousand  feet  above  the  river.  At  our 
feet,  like  a  beautiful  panorama,  lies  the  village  of  Poughkeepsie,  with 
its  churches,  its  literary  institutions,  and  various  improvements  in  view, 
indicating  the  existence  of  a  liberal  spirit  of  well-directed  enterprise.” 
The  Dutchess  County  Academy  wTas  erected  in  1836,  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  village,  at  an  expense  of  about  $14,000.  The  average 
number  of  its  pupils  is  about  one  hundred.  “  The  objects  of  this  institu¬ 
tion  are  to  prepare  young  men  for  college,  for  teachers  of  common 
schools,  for  the  counting-house,  or  any  of  the  active  pursuits  of  life.” 

Matteawan  is  a  large  manufacturing  village  on  Fishkill  creek,  up¬ 
wards  of  a  mile  from  the  landing  on  Hudson  river,  about  10  miles  S. 
of  Poughkeepsie.  It  was  founded  in  1814,  by  Messrs.  Schenck  and 
Leonard,  about  which  time  the  Matteawan  company  was  formed. 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


87 


There  are  here  several  large  cotton  mills,  and  factories  of  various  de¬ 
scriptions.  There  are  about  2,000  persons  connected  with  and  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  works.  There  are  many  neat  dwellings,  and  two  beau¬ 
tiful  churches,  one  Presbyterian  and  one  Episcopalian,  at  whose 
sabbath  schools  250  children  attend.  No  intoxicating  liquors  are  per¬ 
mitted  to  be  sold,  and  almost  the  whole  population  have  pledged 
themselves  to  abstain  from  their  use.  “  The  deep  valley,  with  its  cas¬ 
cades  and  rapids  ;  the  village,  with  its  neat  white  dwellings,  magnifi¬ 
cent  factories,  and  ornamental  churches,  overhung  by  the  stupendous 
mountain,  render  this  one  of  the  most  beautiful  scenes  in  the  state, 
where  enlightened,  cheerful,  and  persevering  industry  is  reaping  its 
due  reward.  It  attracts  much  attention,  and  is  greatly  resorted  to  in 
the  summer  season.” 

Glenham,  Franklinville,  and  Rocky  Glen,  are  small  manufacturing 
villages.  Fishkill  village,  on  the  creek,  5  miles  from  the  Hudson 
river,  and  16  from  Poughkeepsie,  is  situated  upon  a  beautiful  plain,  in 
a  fertile  country,  and  has  about  eighty  dwellings,  an  academy,  one 
Episcopal,  and  one  Dutch  church.  A  portion  of  the  American  army 
were  located  here  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Their  barracks  were 
about  half  a  mile  south  of  the  village.  Pleasant  Valley,  7  miles  NE. 
from  Poughkeepsie,  is  a  manufacturing  village  on  Wappinger’s  creek 
of  about  100  dwellings  and  4  churches.  Hyde  Park  village  and  land¬ 
ing,  about  7  miles  N.  of  Poughkeepsie,  has  about  80  dwellings  and  3 
churches.  The  seat  of  the  late  Dr.  Hosack  is  in  this  place.  The  vil¬ 
lage  of  Rhinebeck  Flats,  about  9  miles  from  New  York,  2  miles  from 
the  landing,  contains  upwards  of  100  dwellings,  3  churches,  and  an 
academy. 


ERIE  COUNTY. 

Erie  county  was  taken  from  Niagara  county  in  1821.  Greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  44,  and  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  30  miles.  Cen¬ 
trally  distant  from  New  York  357,  from  Albany  W.,  298  miles.  Lake 
Erie  and  the  Niagara  river  form  its  western  boundary,  the  Tonawanta 
creek  its  northern,  and  the  Cattaraugus  its  southern.  The  many 
streams  which  enter  into  Lake  Erie  furnish  fine  mill  sites.  The  Erie 
canal  enters  the  Tonawanta  creek  on  the  northern  border  ;  from  which 
a  towing  path  has  been  constructed  along  the  bank  of  the  creek,  which 
is  used  as  a  canal  12  miles  to  the  Tonawanda  village,  a  short  distance 
above  its  junction  with  Niagara  river,  near  Grand  Island.  A  railroad 
connects  Buffalo  with  the  village  at  Niagara  Falls,  and  one  with  the 
Black  Rock  ferry.  The  surface  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  is 
level  or  gently  undulating ;  the  southern  is  more  diversified,  but  no 
part  is  hilly.  Generally  the  soil  is  good ;  consisting  in  the  northern 
half,  of  warm,  sandy,  and  gravelly  loam,  occasionally  mixed  with 
clay,  and  adapted  to  wheat ;  in  the  southern,  clay  prevails,  and  is  pro- 


88 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


ductive  of  grass.  Both  portions  yield  excellent  and  various  fruits. 
About  one  third  of  the  land  is  under  improvement.  The  whole  county 
was  within  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  purchase,  excepting  a  strip 
a  mile  wide  on  the  Niagara  river.  The  county  has  21  towns. 


Alden, 

Amherst, 

Aurora, 

Black  Rock, 

Boston, 

Brandt, 


Buffalo  City, 

Chictawaga, 

Clarence, 

Colden, 

Collins, 

Concord, 


Eden, 

Evans, 

Hamburgh, 

Holland, 

Lancaster, 

Newstead, 


Sardinia, 

Tonawanda, 

Wales. 


Buffalo  city  is  situated  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie,  at  the  head  of 
Niagara  river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Buffalo  creek,  and  at  the  western 
extremity  of  the  Erie  canal ;  Lat.  42°  53'  N.,  long.  2°  west  from 
Washington.  Distant  from  Albany  by  the  great  western  road  298 
miles  ;  by  the  Erie  canal,  364 ;  from  New  York,  by  Albany  and 
Utica,  445 ;  by  Morristown,  N.  J.,  Owego,  and  Ithaca,  357  ;  from 
Rochester,  73  ;  from  Niagara  Falls,  22 ;  from  Erie,  Penn.,  90  ;  from 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  103;  from  Detroit,  Mich.,  290;  from  Toronto,  U. 
C.,  72 ;  from  Montreal,  L.  C.,  427 ;  and  from  Washington  City,  376 
miles.  Buffalo  is  the  port  of  entry  for  the  Niagara  district,  including 
Silver  Creek,  Dunkirk,  and  Portland,  and  all  above  the  falls.  It  is 
an  entrepot  for  the  great  and  growing  trade  between  New  York  and  a 
large  portion  of  Upper  Canada  and  the  great  west. 

Buffalo  was  originally  laid  out  in  1801,  by  the  Holland  Land  Com¬ 
pany,  on  a  bluff  or  terrace  rising  50  feet  above  the  water,  and  partly 
on  the  low  and  marshy  ground  extending  from  the  terrace  to  the  creek 
and  lake.  This  marsh  has  been  drained,  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
business  part  of  the  city  lies  upon  it.  The  Erie  canal  from  Tone- 
wanda  village  is  continued  along  the  margin  of  Niagara  river  and  the 
shore  of  the  lake  to  the  city.  A  mole  or  pier  of  wood  and  stone, 
1,500  feet  long,  extends  from  the  south  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  creek, 
forming  a  partial  breakwater  to  protect  the  shipping  from  the  gales 
which  are  felt  here.  For  the  better  accommodation  of  trade,  a  ship 
canal,  80  feet  wide  and  13  deep,  was  completed  in  1833,  across  the 
harbor  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  a  distance  of  700  yards.  A 
lighthouse  built  of  limestone  stands  on  the  end  of  the  pier,  46  feet  in 
height. 

Prom  the  time  of  the  foundation  of  this  place  to  1812,  it  increased 
slowly.  In  that  year  it  became  a  military  post,  and  in  December, 
1813,  every  building  in  it  was  burnt  save  two,  by  the  British  and  In¬ 
dians.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  were  taken  prisoners  to  Montreal. 
The  place  was  soon  rebuilt,  and  by  1817,  it  contained  100  houses, 
some  of  which  were  large  and  elegant.  It  was  incorporated  as  a 
village  in  1822,  and,  in  1823,  had  the  courthouse  and  jail,  and  up¬ 
wards  of  300  buildings.  It  had  then  felt  in  advance  the  influence  of 
the  Erie  canal,  and  much  improvement  was  made  in  anticipation  of 
the  completion  of  that  great  work.  In  1829,  it  had  400  houses,  and 
more  than  2,000  inhabitants.  It  was  incorporated  as  a  city  in  1832, 


d 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


89 


and  contains  at  this  time  about  4,000  houses,  and  42,266  inhabitants. 
There  are  25  churches,  a  literary  and  scientific  academy,  incorporated 
in  1 827,  7  banks,  8  newspapers,  and  many  hotels  and  taverns,  required 
for  the  great  concourse  of  strangers  here.  The  buildings,  public  and 
private,  are  generally  good,  many  of  them  four  stories  high,  among 
which  are  fine  specimens  of  architecture.  An  enterprising  citizen, 
Mr.  Rathbun,  during  the  year  1835,  erected  99  buildings,  at  an  aggre¬ 
gate  cost  of  about  $500,000  ;  of  these,  52  were  stores  of  the  first 
class,  32  dwellings,  a  theatre,  &c.” 


Distant  view  of  Black  Rock  and  vicinity. 

The  village  of  Black  Rock  is  in  two  divisions,  the  upper  and  lower. 
The  post-office,  which  is  in  the  south  part,  is  3  miles  from  Buffalo, 
opposite  the  village  of  Waterloo  on  the  Canada  side. 

The  foregoing  is  a  distant  northern  view  of  part  of  the  village  of 
Black  Rock  ;  the  Canada  side,  on  which  is  the  village  of  Waterloo, 
is  seen  on  the  right,  and  Lake  Erie  in  the  extreme  distance.  A  ferry 
boat  plies  between  Waterloo  and  the  south  part  of  Black  Rock  vil¬ 
lage.  Niagara  river  at  this  point  is  three  fourths  of  a  mile  wide,  20 
feet  deep,  and  runs  with  a  current  of  6  miles  an  hour.  The  harbor 
of  Black  Rock  is  4,565  yards  long  from  N.  to  S.,  and  from  88  to  220 
yards  broad,  containing  an  area  of  136  acres.  It  begins  in  the  lake 
opposite  Buffalo,  at  Bird  island,  and  is  continued,  by  a  mole  of  double 
wooden  cribs  filled  in  with  stone,  18  feet  wide  and  2,915  yards  long, 
to  Squaw  island,  and  is  raised  from  1  to  4  feet  above  the  surface  of 
the  river,  rising  gradually  towards  the  north.  A  dam  at  the  end  of 
Squaw  island,  connecting  it  with  the  main  land,  raises  the  water  about 
4|  feet  to  the  level  of  the  lake.  The  average  depth  of  the  water  in 
this  harbor  is  15  feet.  By  means  of  the  dam,  great  water-power  is 
obtained,  and  mills  of  various  kinds  are  established  at  the  lower  vil¬ 
lage.  The  village  of  Black  Rock  contains  about  350  dwellings,  and 
2,000  inhabitants. 

Black  Rock,  in  common  with  other  places  on  the  Niagara  fron¬ 
tier,  was  ravaged  and  burnt  by  the  enemy  in  December,  1813.  On 
the  11th  of  July  previous,  the  British  made  an  attack  on  the  place. 
The  following  particulars  of  this  event  are  compiled  from  the  Buffalo 
Gazette. 


12 


90 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


“  The  British  troops  which  crossed  over  at  Black  Rock  on  the  10th  inst.  were  commanded 
by  Cols.  Bishop  and  Warren.  They  crossed  the  Niagara  below  Squaw  island,  and  marched 
far  above  the  navy  yard  before  any  alarm  was  given.  The  detached  militia  being  surprised, 
retreated  up  the  beach,  and  left  the  enemy  in  quiet  possession  of  the  village,  who  proceeded 
to  burn  the  sailors’  barracks  and  block-houses  at  the  great  battery.  They  then  proceeded 
to  the  batteries,  dismounted  and  spiked  three  12  pounders,  and  took  away  3  field-pieces 
and  one  12  pounder  ;  they  took  from  a  storehouse  a  quantity  of  whiskey,  salt,  flour,  pork, 
&c.,  which,  with  four  citizens,  they  took  across  the  river.  At  the  first  moment  of  the  alarm, 
Gen.  Porter  left  Black  Rock  for  Buffalo,  at  which  place  he  assembled  a  body  of  volunteers 
and  a  few  regulars,  which,  with  100  militia  and  25  Indians,  formed  a  junction  about  a  mile 
from  the  enemy.  After  being  formed  with  the  militia  and  Indians  on  the  flanks  and  the 
volunteers  and  the  regulars  in  the  centre,  they  attacked,  and  the  enemy,  after  a  contest  of 
20  minutes,  retreated  in  the  utmost  confusion  to  the  beach,  embarked  in  several  of  our 
boats,  and  pulled  for  the  opposite  shore  ;  all  the  boats  got  off  without  injury,  except  the  last, 
which  suffered  severely  from  our  fire,  and  from  appearance,  nearly  all  the  men  in  her  were 
killed  or  wounded.  The  British  lost  8  killed  on  the  field,  besides  those  killed  and  wounded 
in  the  boats.  We  took  15  prisoners,  who  were  sent  to  Batavia.  Capt.  Saunders,  of  the 
British  49th,  was  wounded  while  stepping  into  his  boat ;  he  was  conveyed  to  Gen.  Porter’s 
house.  He  states  that  Col.  Bishop  was  badly  wounded  and  carried  into  the  boat,  and  says 
also,  that  several  killed  and  wounded  were  carried  into  the  boats.  On  our  side,  Sergeant 
Hartman,  Jonathan  Thompson,  and  Joseph  Wright  were  killed,  and  5  wounded,  2  of  whom 
were  Indians.  The  Indians  behaved  well  and  committed  no  act  of  cruelty.  They  fought 
because  they  were  friendly  to  the  United  States,  and  because  their  own  possessions,  which 
are  very  valuable,  were  in  danger  of  invasion.  They  are  opposed  to  crossing  the  river 
to  fight,  but  are  ready  to  meet  the  enemy  at  the  threshold  in  defence  of  the  country  which 
protects  them.  Maj.  King  was  at  Black  Rock  overnight,  and  was  present  and  assisted  in 
the  action.  Two  hundred  regulars  have  arrived  from  Erie  at  Black  Rock,  where  they  are 
to  be  stationed.” 

Fort  Erie,  about  a  mile  S.  from  the  ferry  at  Waterloo  on  the  Can¬ 
ada  side,  was  a  post  of  much  importance  during  the  last  war.  After 
the  battle  at  Niagara,  the  Americans  fell  back  to  Fort  Erie,  of  which 
they  had  previously  taken  possession.  This  fortress  is  situated  on 
the  margin  of  the  lake,  at  its  outlet  into  the  Niagara  river ;  being 
nearly  a  horizontal  plain  15  feet  above  the  level  of  the  water,  it  pos¬ 
sesses  no  natural  advantages.  On  the  13tli  of  Aug.  1814,  the  British 
troops,  having  invested  the  fort,  opened  a  brisk  cannonade,  which  was 
returned  from  the  American  batteries.  At  sunset  on  the  14th,  one 
of  their  shells  lodged  in  a  small  magazine,  which  blew  up  without  any 
injurious  effects.  The  following  account  of  the  assault  which  took 
place  a  few  hours  afterward,  is  taken  from  “  Perkins'  History  of  the 
Late  War." 

“  Gen.  Gaines,  expecting  an  assault  in  the  course  of  the  night,  kept  his  men  constantly 
at  their  posts.  The  night  was  dark,  and  the  early  part  of  it  rainy  ;  at  2  o’clock  in  the 
morning,  the  British  columns,  enveloped  in  darkness,  were  distinctly  heard  approaching  the 
American  lines.  The  infantry  under  Maj.  Wood,  and  Capt.  Towson’s  artillery,  opened 
a  brisk  fire  upon  them.  The  sheet  of  fire  from  this  corps,  enabled  Gen.  Gaines  to  discover 
this  column  of  the  British,  1,500  strong,  approaching  the  American  left.  The  infantry  were 
protected  by  a  line  of  loose  brush  representing  an  abattis  bordering  on  the  river.  The 
British,  in  attempting  to  pass  round  this,  plunged  into  the  water  breast  high.  The  com¬ 
manding  general  was  about  to  order  a  detachment  of  riflemen  to  support  Maj.  W ood,  but 
was  assured  by  him  that  he  could  maintain  his  position  without  a  reinforcement.  The 
British  columns  were  twice  repulsed,  and  soon  afterward  fled  in  confusion.  On  the  right, 
the  lines  were  lighted  by  a  brilliant  discharge  of  musketry  and  cannon,  which  announced 
the  approach  of  the  centre  and  left  columns  of  the  enemy.  The  latter  met  the  veteran  9th 
regiment,  and  Burton’s  and  Harding’s  companies  of  volunteers,  aided  by  a  6  pounder,  and 
were  repulsed.  The  centre  column,  under  Col.  Drummond,  approached  at  the  same  time 
the  most  assailable  points  of  the  fort,  and  with  scaling  ladders  ascended  the  parapet,  but 
were  driven  back  with  great  carnage.  The  assault  was  twice  repeated,  and  as  often  check¬ 
ed  ;  this  column,  concealed  by  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  the  clouds  of  smoke  which 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


91 


rolled  from  the  cannon  and  musketry,  then  passed  round  the  ditch,  repeated  their  charge, 
reascended  their  ladders,  and  with  their  pikes,  bayonets,  and  spears,  fell  upon  the  artillerists. 
Most  of  the  officers,  and  many  of  the  men,  received  deadly  wounds.  Lieut.  McDonough 
being  severely  wounded,  and  in  the  power  of  the  enemy,  surrendered  and  demanded  quar¬ 
ter  ;  Col.  Drummond,  refusing  it,  drew  a  pistol  and  shot  him  dead.  In  a  moment  after¬ 
ward,  as  he  was  repeating  the  order  to  give  no  quarters,  Col.  Drummond  was  shot  through 
the  heart.  The  bastion  was  now  in  the  possession  of  the  British.  The  battle  raged  with 
increased  fury  on  the  right ;  reinforcements  were  ordered  and  promptly  furnished  from  Maj. 
Wood’s  corps  on  the  left.  Capt.  Fanning  kept  up  a  spirited  and  destructive  fire  from  his 
artillery  on  the  enemy  as  they  were  approaching  the  fort.  Majs.  Hindman  and  Trimble, 
failing  to  drive  the  British  from  the  bastion,  with  the  remaining  artillerists  and  infantry, 
and  Capt.  Birdsall’s  detachment  of  riflemen,  rushed  in  through  the  gateway,  to  the  assist¬ 
ance  of  the  right  wing,  and  made  a  resolute  charge.  A  detachment,  under  Maj.  Hall,  was 
introduced  over  the  interior  of  the  bastion,  for  the  purpose  of  charging  the  British,  who  still 
held  possession,  but  the  narrowness  of  the  passage,  admitting  only  2  or  3  abreast,  prevented 
its  accomplishment,  and  they  were  obliged  to  retire.  At  this  moment,  every  operation  was 
arrested  by  the  explosion  of  the  principal  magazine,  containing  a  large  quantity  of  cartridges 
and  powder,  in  the  end  of  a  stone  building  adjoining  the  contested  bastion.  Whether  this 
was  the  effect  of  accident  or  design,  was  not  known.  The  explosion  was  tremendous,  and 
its  effects  decisive.  The  British  in  possession  of  the  bastion  were  destroyed  in  a  moment. 
As  soon  as  the  tumult  occasioned  by  that  event  had  subsided,  Capt.  Biddle  posted  a  field- 
piece  so  as  to  enfilade  the  exterior  plain,  and  the  salient  glacis.  Fanning’s  battery  at  the 
same  time  opened  on  the  British  who  were  now  returning.  In  a  few  minutes  they  were  all 
driven  from  the  works,  leaving  222  killed,  174  wounded  on  the  field,  and  186  prisoners. 
To  these  losses  are  to  be  added  those  killed  on  the  left  flank  by  Maj.  Wood’s  infantry  and 
Towson’s  artillery,  and  floated  down  the  Niagara,  estimated  in  the  official  reports  at  200. 
The  American  loss  during  the  bombardment  of  the  13th  and  14th,  was  9  killed,  and  36 
wounded,  and  in  the  assault  of  the  night  of  the  14th,  17  killed,  56  wounded,  and  11  missing.” 

The  British  troops  still  continuing  their  investment  of  Fort  Erie, 
on  the  17th  of  September  a  part  of  the  American  garrison  made  a 
sortie ,  and  took  the  British  works  about  500  yards  in  front  of  their 
line.  The  British  had  two  batteries  on  their  left,  which  annoyed  the 
fort,  and  were  about  opening  a  third.  Their  camp  was  about  2  miles 
distant,  sheltered  by  a  wood  ;  their  works  were  garrisoned  with  one 
third  of  their  infantry,  from  1,200  to  1,500  men,  and  a  detachment  of 
artillery. 

“  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  General  Porter,  with  a  large  detachment,  was  order¬ 
ed  to  penetrate  through  the  woods  by  a  circuitous  route,  and  get  between  the  British  main 
body  and  their  batteries  ;  while  General  Miller  was  directed  to  take  a  position  in  the  ravine, 
between  the  American  lines  and  the  batteries,  and  attack  them  in  front.  The  advance  of 
Gen.  Porter’s  command  consisted  of  two  hundred  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Gibson.  The 
right  column,  of  400  infantry,  commanded  by  Col.  Wood  ;  the  left,  under  Gen.  Davis,  of 
500  militia,  designed  to  act  as  a  reserve,  and  to  hold  in  check  any  reinforcements  from 
the  British  main  body.  Gen.  Porter’s  corps  carried  the  blockhouse  in  the  rear  of  the  third 
battery  by  storm,  the  magazine  was  blown  up,  and  the  garrison  made  prisoners.  The 
leaders  of  the  3  divisions  under  Gen.  Porter,  all  fell  nearly  at  the  same  time ;  Col.  Gib¬ 
son,  at  the  head  of  the  riflemen,  at  the  second  battery,  and  Gen.  Davis  and  Col.  Wood  in 
an  assault  upon  the  first.  While  these  transactions  were  taking  place  in  the  rear  of  the 
enemy’s  works,  General  Miller  in  front  penetrated  between  the  first  and  second  batteries, 
and,  aided  by  the  operations  of  Gen.  Porter  in  the  rear,  succeeded  in  carrying  them.  With¬ 
in  30  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the  action,  2  batteries,  2  blockhouses,  and  the 
whole  line  of  intrenchments  were  in  possession  of  the  Americans  ;  and  immediately  after¬ 
ward,  the  other  battery  was  abandoned  by  the  British.  Gen.  Ripley  was  now  ordered  up 
with  the  reserve,  and  at  the  closo  of  the  action,  was  dangerously  wounded  in  the  neck. 
Strong  reinforcements  from  the  British  main  body  arrived  while  the  Americans  were  en¬ 
gaged  in  destroying  the  works,  and  took  part  in  the  action.  The  object  of  the  sortie  being 
fully  accomplished,  the  American  troops  were  ordered  to  return  to  the  fort.  During  the 
action,  Gen.  Porter,  in  passing  from  the  right  to  the  left  column  of  his  detachment,  accom¬ 
panied  with  only  2  or  3  officers,  suddenly  found  himself  within  a  few  yards  of  a  body  of 
60  British  soldiers,  who  had  just  emerged  from  a  ravine,  and  were  hesitating  which  way  to 


92 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


go.  The  general  immediately  advanced,  and  ordered  them  to  surrender ;  approaching  the 
first  man  on  the  left,  he  took  his  musket,  and  pushed  him  towards  the  American  lines :  in 
this  way  he  proceeded  nearly  through  the  whole  company,  most  of  the  men  voluntarily 
throwing  down  their  arms,  and  retiring  towards  the  fort :  when  on  a  sudden,  a  soldier, 
whose  musket  the  general  was  about  to  seize,  presented  the  bayonet  to  his  breast,  and  de¬ 
manded  his  surrender.  Gen.  Porter  seized  the  musket,  and  was  about  wrenching  it  from 
him,  when  he  was  seized  by  a  British  officer,  and  3  or  4  men  who  stood  in  the  ranks,  and 
thrown  on  the  ground.  He  succeeded  in  gaining  his  feet,  when  he  found  himself  sur¬ 
rounded  by  15  or  20  men,  with  their  guns  presented  at  him,  demanding  his  surrender.  By 
this  time,  several  American  officers  with  a  number  of  men  were  advancing  to  the  scene 
of  action.  Gen.  Porter,  now  assuming  an  air  of  composure  and  decision,  told  them  they 
were  now  surrounded  and  prisoners,  and  if  they  fired  a  gun  they  should  all  be  put  to  the 
sword.  By  this  time  a  company  of  Cayuga  riflemen  had  arrived,  and  after  a  momentary 
scene  of  confusion  and  carnage,  the  whole  British  party  were  killed,  or  made  prisoners.” 

The  American  loss  was  79  killed,  432  wounded  and  missing.  The 
British  loss,  as  estimated  by  the  American  commander,  was  500  in 
killed  and  wounded  :  385  prisoners  were  taken,  and  their  advance 
works  were  destroyed.  On  the  night  of  the  21st,  Gen.  Drummond, 
after  an  investment  of  56  days,  broke  up  his  camp,  and  retired  to  his 
intrenchments  behind  Chippewa  river. 


House  of  Red  Jacket,  on  the  Buffalo  Reservation. 


The  above  is  the  eastern  view  of  the  cabin  of  the  celebrated  Indian 
chief,  Red  Jacket,  and  the  house  of  Wm.  Jones,  about  four  miles  from 
Buffalo.  The  cabin  of  Red  Jacket  is  seen  on  the  left,  the  house  of 
Jones,  which  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  better  sort  of  Indian  houses,  on 
the  right.  The  Seneca  mission  church  is  about  80  rods  east  from 
this  place.  Red  Jacket  died  Jan.  20th,  1832,  and  has  a  monument 
erected  to  his  memory  a  few  rods  from  the  church. 

Red  Jacket  was  born  in  1756.  His  birthplace  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  a  place  for¬ 
merly  called  “  Old  Caste,”  about  3  miles  west  of  Geneva,  in  the  present  limits  of  the  town 
of  Seneca.  His  Indian  name  was  Sa-go-you-wat-ha,  a  word  signifying  one  who  keeps 
awake  by  magical  influence.  During  the  revolution,  the  Senecas  fought  under  the  British 
standard.  Although  quite  young,  his  activity  and  intelligence  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  British  officers.  By  them  he  was  presented  with  a  richly  embroidered  scarlet  jacket. 
I  his  he  wore  on  all  occasions,  and  from  this  circumstance  arose  the  name  by  which  he  is 
known  among  the  whites.  During  the  revolution  he  took  little  or  no  part  as  a  warrior, 
but  his  personal  activity  and  transcendent  talents  won  the  esteem  of  his  tribe.  A  gentle¬ 
man  who  knew  him  intimately  for  more  than  30  years,  in  peace  and  in  war,  speaks  of  him 
in  the  following  terms.  “  Red  Jacket  was  a  perfect  Indian  in  every  respect,  in  costume, 
in  his  contempt  of  the  dress  of  the  white  men,  in  his  hatred  and  opposition  to  the  mission- 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


93 


aries,  and  in  his  attachment  to,  and  veneration  for  the  ancient  customs  and  traditions  of 
his  tribe.  He  had  a  contempt  for  the  English  language,  and  disdained  to  use  any  other 
than  his  own.  He  was  the  finest  specimen  of  the  Indian  character  that  I  ever  knew,  and 
sustained  it  with  more  dignity  than  any  other  chief.  He  was  second  to  none  in  authority 
in  his  tribe.  As  an  orator  he  was  unequalled  by  any  Indian  I  ever  saw.  His  language 
was  beautiful  and  figurative,  as  the  Indian  language  always  is,  and  delivered  with  the 
greatest  ease  and  fluency.  His  gesticulation  was  easy,  graceful,  and  natural.  His  voice 
was  distinct  and  clear,  and  he  always  spoke  with  great  animation.  His  memory  was  very 
strong.  I  have  acted  as  interpreter  to  most  of  his  speeches,  to  which  no  translation  could 
do  adequate  justice.” 

The  following  interesting  anecdotes  are  illustrative  of  his  peculiar  points  of  character,  as 
well  as  of  his  ready  eloquence.  At  a  council  held  with  the  Senecas,  a  dispute  arose  be¬ 
tween  Gov.  Tompkins  and  Red  Jacket,  connected  with  a  treaty  of  some  years  standing. 
The  governor  stated  one  thing,  and  the  Indian  chief  insisted  that  the  reverse  was  true. 
But,  it  was  rejoined,  “  you  have  forgotten — we  have  written  it  down  on  paper.”  “  The 
paper  then  tells  a  lie,”  was  the  confident  answer  ;  “  I  have  it  written  here,”  continued  the 
chief,  placing  his  hand  with  great  dignity  upon  his  brow.  “  You  Yankees  are  born  with  a 
feather  between  your  fingers  ;  but  your  paper  does  not  speak  the  truth.  The  Indian  keeps 
his  knowledge  here — this  is  the  book  the  Great  Spirit  gave  us — it  does  not  lie.”  A  refer¬ 
ence  was  immediately  made  to  the  treaty  in  question,  when,  to  the  astonishment  of  all 
present,  and  to  the  triumph  of  the  tawny  statesman,  the  document  confirmed  every  word 
that  he  had  uttered. 

It  happened  during  the  revolution  that  a  treaty  was  held  with  the  Indians,  at  which 
Lafayette  was  present,  the  object  of  which  was  to  unite  the  various  tribes  in  amity  with 
America.  The  majority  of  the  chiefs  were  friendly,  but  there  was  much  opposition  made 
to  it,  especially  by  a  young  warrior,  who  declared  that  when  an  alliance  was  entered  into 
with  America,  he  should  consider  that  the  sun  of  his  country  had  set  forever.  In  his  travels 
through  the  Indian  country,  when  last  in  America,  it  happened  at  a  large  assemblage  of 
chiefs,  that  Lafayette  referred  to  the  treaty  in  question,  and  turning  to  Red  Jacket,  said, 
“  Pray  tell  me,  if  you  can,  what  has  become  of  that  daring  youth  who  so  decidedly  op¬ 
posed  all  propositions  for  peace  and  amity  ?” '  “  I  myself  am  the  man,”  replied  Red 
Jacket ;  “  the  decided  enemy  of  the  Americans,  so  long  as  the  hope  of  successfully  op¬ 
posing  them  remained,  but  now  their  true  and  faithful  ally  until  death.” 

During  the  late  war,  Red  Jacket  with  his  tribe  enlisted  on  the  American  side.  He 
fought  through  the  whole  war,  and  displayed  the  most  undaunted  intrepidity  ;  while  in  no 
instance  did  he  exhibit  the  ferocity  of  the  savage,  or  disgrace  himself  by  any  act  of  inhu¬ 
manity. 

Red  Jacket  was  the  foe  of  the  white  man.  His  nation  was  his  god  ;  her  honor,  preser¬ 
vation,  and  liberty,  his  religion.  He  hated  the  missionary  of  the  cross,  because  he  feared 
some  secret  design  upon  the  lands,  the  peace,  or  the  independence  of  the  Senecas.  He 
never  understood  Christianity.  Its  sublime  disinterestedness  exceeded  his  conceptions. 
He  was  a  keen  observer  of  human  nature ;  and  saw  that  among  white  and  red  men,  sor¬ 
did  interest  was  equally  the  spring  of  action.  He  therefore  naturally  enough  suspected 
every  stranger  who  came  to  his  tribe,  of  some  design  on  their  little  and  dearly  prized  do¬ 
mains.  His  tribe  was  divided  into  two  factions,  one  of  which,  from  being  in  favor  of  the 
missionaries,  was  called  the  Christian,  and  the  other,  from  their  opposition,  the  pagan 
party.  His  wife,  who  would  attend  the  religious  meetings  of  the  Christian  party,  re¬ 
ceived  much  persecution  from  him  on  this  account.  During  his  last  sickness  there  seemed 
to  be  quite  a  change  in  regard  to  his  feelings  respecting  Christianity.  He  repeatedly  re¬ 
marked  to  his  wife,  that  he  was  sorry  that  he  had  persecuted  her, — that  she  was  right 
and  he  wrong,  and,  as  his  dying  advice,  told  her,  “  Persevere  in  your  religion,  it  is  the 
right  way  /” 

A  few  days  before  his  decease,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Harris,  the  missionary ;  but  he  was  at¬ 
tending  an  ecclesiastical  council,  and  did  not  receive  the  message  until  after  the  death  of 
the  chief.  In  his  last  wandering  moments  it  is  said  that  he  directed  that  a  vial  of  cold 
water  should  be  placed  in  his  cotfin,  so  that  he  might  have  something  with  which  to  fight 
the  evil  spirit.  A  considerable  number  of  people  from  Buffalo  attended  his  funeral,  some 
of  whom  wished  him  buried  in  the  ancient  or  pagan  style.  He  was,  however,  interred  in 
the  Christian  manner,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  his  relatives.  He  left  two  wives, 
but  none  of  his  children  survived  him.  Two  of  his  sons  are  supposed  to  have  died  Chris¬ 
tians.  Rev.  Jabez  B.  Hyde,  a  teacher  to  the  Senecas  before  the  war  of  1812,  states  that 
one  of  the  sons  of  Red  Jacket  was  the  first  convert  to  Christianity  from  this  tribe. 

For  some  months  previous  to  his  death,  time  had  made  such  ravages  on  his  constitution 


94 


ERIE  COUNTY. 


as  to  render  him  fully  sensible  of  his  approaching  dissolution.  To  that  event  he  often  ad¬ 
verted,  and  always  in  the  language  of  philosophic  calmness.  He  visited  successively  all 
his  most  intimate  friends  at  their  cabins,  and  conversed  with  them  upon  the  condition  of 
the  nation  in  the  most  affecting  and  impressive  manner.  He  told  them  that  he  was  pass¬ 
ing  away,  and  his  counsels  would  soon  be  heard  no  more.  He  ran  over  the  history  of  his 
people  from  the  most  remote  period  to  which  his  knowledge  extended,  and  pointed  out,  as 
few  could,  the  wrongs,  the  privations,  and  the  loss  of  character,  which  almost  of  them¬ 
selves  constituted  that  history.  “  I  am  about  to  leave  you,”  said  he,  “  and  when  I  am 
gone,  and  my  warning  shall  no  longer  be  heard  or  regarded,  the  craft  and  the  avarice  of 
the  white  man  will  prevail.  Many  winters  have  I  breasted  the  storm,  but  I  am  an  aged 
tree,  and  can  stand  no  longer.  My  leaves  are  fallen,  my  branches  are  withered,  and  I  am 
shaken  by  every  breeze.  Soon  my  aged  trunk  will  be  prostrate,  and  the  foot  of  the  ex¬ 
ulting  foe  of  the  Indian  may  be  placed  upon  it  in  safety  ;  for  I  leave  none  who  will  be 
enabled  to  avenge  such  an  indignity.  Think  not  I  mourn  for  myself.  I  go  to  join  the 
spirits  of  my  fathers,  where  age  cannot  come  ;  but  my  heart  fails  when  I  think  of  my 
people,  who  are  soon  to  be  scattered  and  forgotten.” 

Tonewanda  village,  having  about  100  dwellings,  lies  at  the  mouth 
and  on  both  sides  of  Tonewanda  creek,  the  portion  lying  on  the  north 
side  of  the  creek  being  in  Wheatfield,  Niagara  co.  It  is  16  miles 
SW.  from  Lockport,  1 1  N.  from  Buffalo,  on  the  lines  of  the  Buffalo 
and  Niagara  railroad  and  the  Erie  canal,  which  latter  here  runs  in  the 
Tonewanda  creek.  Grand  Island,  called  by  the  Indians  Owanungah, 
in  the  Niagara  river,  commences  about  5  miles  below  the  termination 
of  Lake  Erie,  runs  down  8  miles,  and  ends  within  3  of  Niagara  Falls. 
Its  breadth  varies  from  3  to  6  miles.  Originally  this,  with  the  small 
islands  of  Strawberry,  Snake,  Squaw,  and  Bird,  belonged  to  the 
Senecas,  and  were  purchased  of  them  by  the  state  for  $1,000,  and 
an  annuity  of  $500.  “  The  state,  in  1833,  sold  Grand  Island  to  the 

East  Boston  Co.,  who  have  erected  upon  it,  on  the  site  of  the  pro¬ 
posed  Jewish  city  of  Ararat,  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tonewanda 
creek,  the  village  of  White  Haven,  (named  after  Mr.  Stephen  White, 
who  resides  upon  Tonewanda  island  nearly  opposite,)  where  they 
have  a  steam  grist-mill  and  saw-mill  150  feet  square,  with  room  for 
15  gangs  of  saws,  said  to  be  the  largest  in  the  world,  several  dwell¬ 
ings,  a  building  used  for  a  school  and  church,  a  commodious  wharf, 
several  hundred  feet  long,  and  a  spacious  dock  of  piles  for  storing  and 
securing  floating  timber.  The  principal  object  of  the  company  is  to 
prepare  timber  for  vessels  on  the  lakes  and  the  ocean,  fitting  the 
frames  to  the  models  given  ;  in  which  they  avail  themselves,  not  only 
of  their  special  resources  on  the  island,  but  of  all  which  the  vast 
region  around  the  upper  lakes  affords.”  The  operations  of  this  com¬ 
pany  are  at  present  suspended. 

“  In  1816  and  T7,  a  number  of  persons  from  the  United  States  and  Canada  went  on 
this  island.  They  marked  out  the  boundaries  of  their  different  possessions  ;  elected  magis¬ 
trates  and  other  officers  from  among  themselves  ;  and  gave  out  that  they  were  amenable 
to  neither  government,  but  an  independent  community.  After  the  question  of  boundary 
was  settled,  the  state  of  New  York  passed  a  law  to  drive  them  oft’;  but  that  was  not  ef¬ 
fected  till  the  severe  measure  was  resorted  to  of  destroying  their  houses,  which  was  done  by 
the  sheriff  and  posse  of  Erie  county.  Grand  Island  was  selected  by  Major  Noah,  (now  of 
the  city  of  New  York,)  on  which  to  build  a  city,  and  establish  a  colony  of  Jews,  with  the 
view  ot  making  it  the  Ararat,  or  resting-place  of  that  dispersed  people.  There  it  was  antici¬ 
pated  that  their  government  would  be  organized,  and  thence  the  laws  would  emanate  which 
again  were  to  bring  together  the  children  of  Israel,  and  re-establish  them  as  a  nation  upon 
the  earth.  The  European  Rabbi  did  not  sanction  the  scheme,  and  it  vanished  as  a  day¬ 
dream  of  the  learned  and  worthy  projector.” — Steele’s  Book  of  Niagara  Falls. 


ESSEX  COUNTY. 


05 


ESSEX  COUNTY. 


Essex  county,  formed  from  Clinton  in  1799,  was  originally  settled 
from  New  England.  Its  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  43,  greatest  breadth 
E.  and  W.  41  miles  ;  centrally  distant  from  New  York  271,  and  from 
Albany  126  sides.  “  The  surface  of  this  county  is  decidedly  moun¬ 
tainous,  in  ’j|fnch  respect  it  bears  a  striking  contrast  to  the  St.  Law¬ 
rence.  In  addition  to  this,  it  may  be  remarked,  that  the  hills,  as  well 
as  the  mountains,  are  steep  and  abrupt,  and  almost  uniformly  present, 
on  one  side,  a  precipice  nearly  perpendicular.  In  this  county  there 
are  no  long  and  gradual  slopes,  or  gentle  risings  towards  the  mountain 
summit,  but  they  are  always  bold  and  difficult  of  ascent.  A  surface 
of  country  thus  characterized,  combined  also  with  great  height,  both 
of  the  general  surface  and  especially  of  numerous  peaks,  alters  to  a 
very  great  extent  its  agricultural  character.  By  this  combination,  the 
mean  temperature  of  the  county  is  reduced  so  low,  that  the  cultivation 
of  some  of  the  most  useful  vegetables  is  prevented,  or  they  are  crops 
so  uncertain,  on  account  of  late  springs  and  early  autumnal  frosts, 
that  little  inducement  is  held  out  for  trying  them  even  as  matters  of 
experiment. 

“  The  whole  of  this  county  lies  within  the  northern  primitive  dis¬ 
trict,  except  a  strip  of  lower  secondary,  which  borders  the  lake  for 
many  miles,  and  which  has  generally  a  surface  of  rock  lime.  Iron  ore 
of  the  best  quality  abounds  everywhere  on  the  hills  ;  marble  is  appa¬ 
rent  in  Moriah  ;  plumbago  in  several  districts  ;  ochres,  from  which 
paint  is  made,  in  Ticonderoga  ;  and  some  copper,  it  is  said,  has  been 
discovered  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.” — The  county  is  di¬ 
vided  into  15  towns,  viz. : 


Chesterfield, 
Crown  Point, 
Elizabethtown, 
Essex, 


Jay, 

Keene, 

Lewis, 

Minerva, 


Moriah, 

Newcomb, 

Schroon, 

Ticonderoga, 


Westport, 

Willsborough, 

Wilmington. 


Keesville,  situated  on  both  sides  of  Au  Sable  river,  16  miles  S. 
from  Plattsburg  and  4  from  Port  Kent,  contains  about  300  dwellings, 
4  churches,  a  bank,  several  large  manufacturing  establishments,  and 
is  a  center  of  business  for  iron  and  lumber.  Elizabethtown,  where 
the  county  buildings  are  located,  is  a  village  of  some  30  or  40  dwell¬ 
ings.  Crown  Point,  whence  the  name  of  the  town  and  ancient  fort 
is  derived,  is  situated  at  the  NE.  extremity,  and  is  formed  by  an 
extensive  deep  bay  on  the  west,  skirted  by  a  steep  mountain,  and  on 
the  north  and  east  by  the  body  of  the  lake.  Fort  Frederick,  at  this 
place,  was  built  by  the  French  in  1731.  This  fortress  was  a  star 
work,  being  in  the  form  of  a  pentagon,  with  bastions  at  the  angles, 
and  surrounded  by  a  ditch  walled  in  with  stone.  This  post  secured 
the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  guarded  the  passage  into  Cana¬ 
da.  It  was  through  this  lake,  by  the  route  of  Crown  Point,  that  the 


90 


ESSEX  COUNTY. 


parties  of  French  and  Indians  made  their  bloody  incursions  upon  the 
frontiers  of  New  England  and  New  York.  This  fort  was  subse¬ 
quently  blown  up  ;  and  its  site  is  now  marked  by  a  heap  of  ruins. 
This  place  being  abandoned  by  the  French,  in  1759,  to  Gen.  Am¬ 
herst,  fort  Crown  Point  was  afterward  erected,  about  a  quarter  ot  a 
mile  from  the  shore,  and  has  at  a  distance  something  the  appearance 
of  Ticonderoga.  The  walls  were  of  wood  and  earth,  16  feet  high,  22 
thick,  enclosing  an  area  of  1,500  yards  square,  surrounded  by  a  deep 
broad  ditch  cut  into  granite.  There  were  here  a  double  row  of  stone 
barracks,  and  on  the  north,  a  gate  with  a  drawbridge  and  covered  way 
leading  to  the  lake.  These  works  and  those  adjoining,  which  were 
extensive,  are  now  mostly  heaps  of  rubbish.  Crown  Point  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Americans  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of  Ticonde¬ 
roga,  in  May,  1775,  but  was  evacuated  the  next  year.  The  disastrous 
expedition  against  Canada  was  terminated  near  this  place,  by  the 
destruction  of  the  lake  fleet  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Arnold,  Oct. 
13th,  1776.  Arnold,  on  his  retreat  from  Canada,  on  board  his  fleet, 
was  pursued  by  the  enemy  so  closely,  that  he  was  obliged  to  run  his 
vessel  on  shore  and  blow  up  five  gondolas.  The  British  soon  estab¬ 
lished  themselves,  with  their  army  and  fleet,  at  Crown  Point,  and 
strengthened  the  fortifications  ;  but  ere  long  they  abandoned  the  sta¬ 
tion  and  retired  to  Canada. 


Ruins  of  Fort  Ticonderoga. 


The  above  is  a  representation  of  the  ruins  of  Fort  Ticonderoga,  96 
miles  from  Albany,  the  fortress  so  celebrated  in  colonial  and  revolu¬ 
tionary  history.  These  ruins  are  situated  on  a  peninsula  of  about  500 
acres,  elevated  upwards  of  100  feet  above  Lake  Champlain,  at  the 
mouth  of  Lake  George’s  outlet.  This  fortress  was  originally  erected  by 
the  French  in  1756,  and  was  called  by  them  Carillon,  and  was  a  place 
of  much  strength  by  nature  and  art,  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  water, 
and  having  hall  the  fourth  covered  by  a  swamp,  and  the  only  approach¬ 
able  point  defended  by  a  breastwork.  It  was,  however,  commanded 
by  Mount  Defiance  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek  or  outlet,  which 


ESSEX  COUNTY. 


97 


towers  750  feet  above  the  lake.  It  was  on  the  summit  of  this  moun¬ 
tain  that  Gen.  Burgoyne’s  troops  showed  themselves  on  the  morning 
of  July  4th,  1777,  with  a  battery  of  heavy  cannon,  which  they  had 
drawn  up  along  the  ridge  during  the  night.  The  distance  from  the 
summit  to  the  fort,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  a  mile.  The  position  was 
so  commanding  that  they  could  count  all  the  men  in  the  fort,  and 
fully  justified  Gen.  St.  Clair  in  ordering  an  immediate  retreat  of  the 
garrison.  Mount  Independence,  connected  in  history  with  Ticonde- 
roga,  lies  in  Vermont,  one  mile  from  the  fort  on  the  east  side  of  the 
lake.  There  are  here  also  remains  of  military  works. 

The  following  account  of  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Abercrombie  before 
Ticonderoga,  July  8,  1758,  is  from  the  3d  volume  of  Macauley’s  His¬ 
tory  of  New  York : 

“  The  expedition  against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  was  conducted  by  Abercrombie 
in  person.  In  the  beginning  of  July  he  embarked  his  forces,  amounting  to  nearly  seven 
thousand  regulars  and  ten  thousand  provincials,  on  Lake  George,  on  board  of  nine  hundred 
batteaux,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  whale  boats,  with  provisions,  artillery,  and  ammu¬ 
nition.  Several  pieces  of  cannon  were  mounted  on  rafts,  to  cover  the  proposed  landing  at 
the  outlet  of  the  lake.  Early  the  next  morning  he  reached  the  landing  place,  which  was 
in  a  cove  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  near  its  issue,  leading  to  the  advanced  guard  of  the 
enemy,  composed  of  one  battalion,  in  a  logged  camp.  He  immediately  debarked  his 
forces,  and  after  having  formed  them  into  three  columns,  marched  to  the  enemy’s  advanced 
post,  which  was  abandoned  with  precipitation.  He  continued  his  march  with  the  army  to¬ 
wards  Ticonderoga,  with  the  intention  of  investing  it ;  but  the  route  lying  through  a  thick 
wood  that  did  not  admit  of  any  regular  progression,  and  the  guides  proving  extremely  ig¬ 
norant,  the  troops  were  bewildered,  and  the  columns  broken  by  falling  in  one  on  another. 
Lord  Howe  being  advanced  at  the  head  of  the  right  centre  column,  encountered  a  French 
detachment,  that  had  likewise  lost  its  way  in  the  retreat  from  the  advanced  post,  and  a 
warm  skirmish  ensuing,  the  enemy  were  routed  with  considerable  loss ;  and  one  hundred 
and  forty-eight  were  taken  prisoners.  This  advantage  was  purchased  at  a  dear  rate.  Lord 
Howe,  and  one  other  officer,  besides  privates,  were  killed.  The  former  is  spoken  of  in 
very  high  terms  for  his  bravery.*  Abercrombie  perceiving  the  troops  were  greatly  fatigued 
and  disordered,  deemed  it  advisable  to  fall  back  to  the  landing  place.  Then  he  detached 
Lieutenant-colonel  Bradstreet,  with  a  detachment,  to  take  possession  of  a  saw-mill  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ticonderoga,  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned.  This  post  being  secured, 
Abercrombie  advanced  again  towards  Ticonderoga,  where,  he  understood  from  the  prisoners, 
the  enemy  had  assembled  eight  battalions,  with  a  body  of  Canadians  and  Indians,  amount¬ 
ing  in  all  to  six  thousand  men.  The  actual  number,  however,  was  considerably  less,  not 
exceeding  four  thousand  men,  as  was  afterward  ascertained.  These,  they  said,  being  en¬ 
camped  before  the  fort,  were  employed  in  making  a  formidable  intrenchment,  where  they 
intended  to  wait  for  a  reinforcement  of  three  thousand  men,  who  had  been  detached,  under 
the  command  of  M.  de  Levi,  to  make  a  diversion  on  the  side  of  the  Mohawk ;  but  upon 
intelligence  of  Abercrombie’s  approach, were  now  recalled  for  the  defence  of  Ticonderoga. 
This  information  induced  Abercrombie  to  strike,  if  possible,  some  decisive  blow  before  the 
iunction  could  be  effected.  He  therefore  early  next  morning  sent  his  engineer  to  recon¬ 
noitre  the  enemy’s  intrenchments ;  and  he,  upon  his  return,  reported  that  the  works  being 
still  unfinished,  might  be  attempted  with  good  prospect  of  success.  A  disposition  was 
made  accordingly  for  the  attack,  and  after  proper  guards  had  been  left  at  the  saw-mill  and 
the  landing  place,  the  whole  army  was  put  in  motion.  The  troops  advanoed  with  great  alacrity 
towards  the  intrenchments,  which,  however,  they  found  altogether  impracticable.  The 
breastwork  was  raised  eight  feet  high,  and  the  ground  before  it  covered  with  an  abattis. 


*  “This  young  officer  was  the  idol  of  the  army.  From  his  first  arrival  in  America,  he  had  accommodated 
himself  and  his  regiment  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  service.  He  cut  his  hair  short,  and  induced  the  regi¬ 
ment  to  follow  the  example.  He  fashioned  their  clothing  for  the  activity  of  service,  and  divested  himself 
and  them  of  every  article  of  superfluous  baggage.  When  near  Ticonderoga,  major,  afterward  Gen.  Putnam, 
with  about  100  men,  advanced  in  front  of  the  army  as  a  kind  of  scouting  party.  Putnam  endeavored  to 
prevent  Lord  Howe  from  accompanying  him,  saying,  1  My  Lord,  if  I  am  killed,  the  loss  of  my  life  will  be  of 
little  consequence,  but  the  preservation  of  yours  is  of  infinite  importance  to  this  army.’  The  only  answer 
was, 1  Putnam,  your  life  is  as  dear  to  you,  as  mine  is  to  me :  I  am  determined  to  go.’  They  soon  met  the  leit 
flank  of  the  enemy’s  advance,  by  whose  first  fire  his  lordship  fell.” — Humphrey's  Life  of  Putnam. 

13 


98 


ESSEX  COUNTY. 


or  felled  trees,  with  their  boughs  pointing  outward,  and  projecting  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
render  the  intrenchment  almost  inaccessible.  Notwithstanding  these  discouraging  diificul 
ties,  the  troops  marched  up  to  the  assault  with  an  undaunted  resolution,  and  sustained  a 
terrible  fire.  They  endeavored  to  force  their  way  through  these  embarrassments,  and  some 
of  them  even  mounted  the  parapet ;  but  the  enemy  were  so  well  covered,  and  defended 
their  works  with  so  much  gallantry,  notwithstanding  their  greatly  inferior  numbers,  that  no 
impression  could  be  made  ;  the  carnage  became  fearfully  great,  and  the  assailants  began  to 
fall  into  great  confusion,  after  several  attacks,  which  lasted  several  hours.  Abercrombie  by 
this  time  saw  plainly  that  no  hope  of  success  remained ;  and  in  order  to  prevent  a  total  de¬ 
feat,  sounded  a  retreat,  leaving  about  two  thousand  men  on  the  field.  Every  corps  of  the 
army  behaved,  on  this  unfortunate  day,  with  remarkable  intrepidity  ;  the  greatest  loss  sus¬ 
tained  among  the  corps,  was  that  of  the  regiment  of  Lord  John  Murray.” 

The  seizure  of  the  fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  by  Col.  Ethan  Allen, 
on  the  10th  of  May,  1775,  is  thus  related  by  Ramsay,  in  his  history 
of  the  American  Revolution  : 

“  It  early  occurred  to  many,  that  if  the  sword  decided  the  controversy  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  colonies,  the  possession  of  Ticonderoga  would  be  essential  to  the  security 
of  the  latter.  Situated  on  a  promontory,  formed  at  the  junction  of  the  waters  of  Lake 
George  and  Lake  Champlain,  it  was  the  key  of  all  communication  between  New  York  and 
Canada.  Messrs.  Deane,  Wooster,  Parsons,  Stevens,  and  others  of  Connecticut,  planned 
a  scheme  for  obtaining  possession  of  this  valuable  post.  Having  procured  a  loan  of  1  ,800 
dollars  of  public  money,  and  provided  a  sufficient  quantity  of  powder  and  ball,  they  set  off 
for  Bennington,  to  obtain  the  co-operation  of  Colonel  Allen  of  that  place.  Two  hundred 
and  seventy  men,  mostly  of  that  brave  and  hardy  people  who  are  called  green  mountain 
boys,  were  speedily  collected  at  Castleton,  which  was  fixed  on  as  the  place  of  rendezvous. 
At  this  place  Colonel  Arnold,  who,  though  attended  only  with  a  servant,  was  prosecuting 
the  same  object,  unexpectedly  joined  them.  He  had  been  early  chosen  a  captain  of  a  vol¬ 
unteer  company  by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven,  among  whom  he  resided.  As  soon  as 
he  received  news  of  the  Lexington  battle,  he  marched  off  with  his  company  for  the  vi¬ 
cinity  of  Boston,  and  arrived  there,  though  150  miles  distant,  in  a  few  days.  Immediately 
after  his  arrival  he  waited  on  the  Massachusetts  committee  of  safety,  and  informed  them, 
that  there  were  at  Ticonderoga  many  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  great  quantity  of  valuable 
stores,  and  that  the  fort  was  in  a  ruinous  condition,  and  garrisoned  only  by  about  40  men. 
They  appointed  him  a  colonel,  and  commissioned  him  to  raise  400  men,  and  to  take  Ti¬ 
conderoga.  The  leaders  of  the  party  which  had  previously  rendezvoused  at  Castleton,  ad¬ 
mitted  Colonel  Arnold  to  join  them,  and  it  was  agreed  that  Colonel  Allen  should  be  the 
commander  in  chief  of  the  expedition,  and  that  Colonel  Arnold  should  be  his  assistant. 
They  proceeded  without  delay,  and  arrived  in  the  night  at  Lake  Champlain,  opposite  to  Ti¬ 
conderoga.  Allen  and  Arnold  crossed  over  with  83  men,  and  landed  near  the  garrison. 
They  contended  who  should  go  in  first,  but  it  was  at  last  agreed  that  they  should  both  go 
in  together.  They  advanced  abreast,  and  entered  the  fort  at  the  dawning  of  day.  A  sentry 
snapped  his  piece  at  one  of  them,  and  then  retreated  through  the  covered  way  to  the  pa¬ 
rade.  The  Americans  followed,  and  immediately  drew  up.  The  commander,  surprised  in 
his  bed,  was  called  upon  to  surrender  the  fort.  He  asked,  By  what  authority  ?  Colonel 
Allen  replied,  ‘  I  demand  it  in  the  name  of  the  great  Jehovah,  and  of  the  continental 
congress.’’  No  resistance  was  made,  and  the  fort,  with  its  valuable  stores  and  forty-eight 
prisoners,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  The  boats  had  been  sent  back  for  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  the  men,  but  the  business  was  done  before  they  got  over.  Colonel  Seth  War¬ 
ner  was  sent  off  with  a  party  to  take  possession  of  Crown  Point,  where  a  sergeant  and  12 
men  performed  garrison  duty.  This  was  speedily  effected.  The  next  object,  calling  for 
the  attention  of  the  Americans,  was  to  obtain  the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  but  to  ac¬ 
complish  this,  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  get  possession  of  a  sloop  of  war,  lying  at  St. 
Johns,  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  lake.  With  the  view  of  capturing  this  sloop  it 
was  agreed  to  man  and  arm  a  schooner  lying  at  South  Bay,  and  that  Arnold  should  com¬ 
mand  her,  and  that  Allen  should  command  some  batteaux  on  the  same  expedition.  A  fa. 
vorable  wind  carried  the  schooner  ahead  of  the  batteaux,  and  Colonel  Arnold  got  immedi¬ 
ate  possession  of  the  sloop  by  surprise.  The  wind  again  favoring  him,  he  returned  with 
his  prize  to  Ticonderoga,  and  rejoined  Colonel  Allen.  The  latter  soon  went  home,  and  the 
former  with  a  number  of  men  agreed  to  remain  there  in  garrison.  In  this  rapid  manner 
he  possession  of  Ticonderoga  and  the  command  of  Lake  Champlain  were  obtained,  with¬ 
out  any  loss,  by  a  few  determined  men.” 


ESSEX  COUNTY. 


99 


The  following  account  of  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  by  Gen¬ 
eral  St.  Clair,  on  July  6,  1777,  and  some  of  the  events  which  follow¬ 
ed,  is  from  the  3d  volume  of  Macauley’s  History  of  New  York : 

“  From  Crown  Point,  the  British  army  advanced  on  both  sides  of  the  lake  ;  the  naval 
force  keeping  its  station  in  the  centre  ;  the  frigate  and  gun-boats  cast  anchor  just  out  of 
cannon-shot  from  the  American  works.  On  the  near  approach  of  the  right  wing,  which 
advanced  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  on  the  second  of  July,  the  Americans  abandoned 
and  set  fire  to  their  works,  block-houses  and  saw-mills,  towards  Lake  George  ;  and  with¬ 
out  attempting  any  serious  opposition,  suffered  General  Phillips  to  take  possession  of  Mount 
Hope.  This  post  commanded  the  American  lines  in  a  great  degree,  and  cut  off  their  com¬ 
munication  with  Lake  George.  The  enemy  charged  the  Americans,  on  this  occasion,  with 
supineness  and  want  of  vigor ;  but  this  charge  seems  not  well-founded ;  they  had  not  men 
enough  to  make  any  effectual  opposition  to  the  powerful  force  which  threatened  to  enclose 
them. 

“  In  the  mean  time,  the  British  army  proceeded  with  such  expedition  in  the  construction 
of  their  works,  the  bringing  up  of  their  artillery,  stores,  and  provisions,  and  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  posts  and  communications,  that  by  the  fifth,  matters  were  so  far  advanced  as  to 
require  but  one  or  two  days  more  to  completely  invest  the  posts  on  both  sides  of  the  lake. 
Mount  Defiance  had  also  been  examined,  and  the  advantages  which  it  presented  were  so 
important,  that  it  had  been  determined  to  take  possession,  and  erect  a  battery  there.  This 
work,  though  attended  with  extreme  difficulty  and  labor,  had  been  carried  on  by  General 
Phillips  with  much  expedition  and  success.  A  road  had  been  made  over  very  rough 
ground,  to  the  top  of  the  mount ;  and  the  enemy  were  at  work  in  constructing  a  level  for  a 
battery,  and  transporting  their  cannon.  As  soon  as  this  battery  should  be  ready  to  play, 
the  American  works  would  have  been  completely  invested  on  all  sides. 

“  The  situation  of  General  St.  Clair  was  now  very  critical.  He  called  a  council  of  war, 
to  deliberate  on  measures  to  be  taken.  He  informed  them  that  their  whole  effective  num¬ 
ber  was  not  sufficient  to  man  one  half  of  the  works  ;  that  as  the  whole  must  be  constantly 
on  duty,  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  endure  the  fatigue  for  any  considerable  length 
of  time  ;  that  General  Schuyler,  who  was  then  at  Fort  Edward,  had  not  sufficient  forces  to 
relieve  them ;  and  that,  as  the  enemy’s  batteries  were  nearly  ready  to  open  upon  them,  and 
the  place  would  be  completely  invested  in  twenty-four  hours,  nothing  could  save  the  troops 
but  an  immediate  evacuation  of  the  posts. 

“  It  was  proposed  that  the  baggage  of  the  army,  with  such  artillery  stores  and  provisions 
as  the  necessity  of  the  occasion  would  admit,  should  be  embarked  with  a  strong  detach¬ 
ment  on  board  of  two  hundr.ed  batteaux,  and  despatched  under  convoy  of  five  armed  gal¬ 
leys,  up  the  lake  to  Skeensborough,  (Whitehall,)  and  that  the  main  body  of  the  army  should 
proceed  by  land,  taking  its  route  on  the  road  to  Castleton,  which  was  about  thirty  miles 
southeast  of  Ticonderoga,  and  join  the  boats  and  galleys  at  Skeensborough.  It  was  thought 
necessary  to  keep  the  matter  a  secret  till  the  time  should  come,  when  it  was  to  be  ex¬ 
ecuted.  Hence,  the  necessary  preparations  could  not  be  made,  and  it  was  not  possible  to 
prevent  irregularity  and  disorder,  in  the  different  embarkations  and  movements  of  the 
troops. 

“  About  two  o’clock  in  the  morning  of  July  the  sixth,  General  St.  Clair  left  Ticonderoga 
and  about  three,  the  troops  at  Mount  Independence  were  put  in  motion.  The  house  which 
had  been  occupied  by  General  de  Fermoy  was,  contrary  to  orders,  set  on  fire.  This  afforded 
complete  information  to  the  enemy  of  what  was  going  forward,  and  enabled  them  to  see 
every  movement  of  the  Americans — at  the  same  time,  it  impressed  the  latter  with  such  an 
idea  of  discovery  and  danger,  as  precipitated  them  into  great  disorder.  About  four  o’clock, 
Colonel  Francis  brought  otf  the  rear-guard,  and  conducted  their  retreat  in  a  regular  man¬ 
ner  ;  and  soon  after,  some  of  the  regiments,  through  the  exertions  of  their  officers,  recov¬ 
ered  from  their  confusion.  When  the  troops  arrived  at  Hubbardton  they  were  halted  for 
nearly  two  hours,  and  the  rear-guard  was  increased  by  many  who  did  not  at  first  belong  to 
it,  but  were  picked  up  on  the  road,  having  been  unable  to  keep  up  with  their  regiments. 
The  rear-guard  was  here  put  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Seth  Warner,  with  orders  to 
follow  the  army,  as  soon  as  the  whole  came  up,  and  to  halt  about  a  mile  and  a  half  short 
of  the  main  body.  The  army  then  proceeded  to  Castleton,  about  six  miles  further — Colonel 
Warner,  with  the  rear-guard  and  stragglers,  remaining  at  Hubbardton. 

“  The  retreat  of  the  Americans  from  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence,  was  no 
sooner  perceived  by  the  British,  than  General  Frazer  began  an  eager  pursuit  with  his  bri¬ 
gade.  Major-general  Reidesel  was  ordered  to  join  in  the  pursuit  with  the  greater  part  of  his 
Germans.  General  Frazer  continued  the  pursuit  through  the  day,  and  having  received  in- 


100 


FRANKLIN  COUNTY. 


telligence  that  the  rear  of  the  American  army  was  at  no  great  distance,  ordered  his  men 
to  lie  that  night  upon  their  arms.  On  July  7th,  at  five  in  the  morning,  he  came  up  with 
Col.  Warner,  who  had  about  one  thousand  men.  The  British  advanced  boldly  to  the 
attack,  and  the  two  bodies  formed  within  sixty  yards  of  each  other.  The  conflict  was 
fierce  and  bloody.  Colonel  Francis  fell  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  fighting  with  great 
gallantry.  Warner  was  so  well  supported  by  his  officers  and  men,  that  the  assailants 
broke  and  gave  way.  They  soon,  however,  recovered  from  their  disorder,  formed  again, 
and  charged  the  Americans  with  the  bayonet,  when  they,  in  their  turn,  were  put  into  dis¬ 
order  ;  these,  however,  rallied  and  returned  to  the  charge,  and  the  issue  of  the  battle  be¬ 
came  dubious.  At  that  moment,  Gen.  Reidesel  appeared  with  the  advance  party  of  his 
Germans.  These  being  led  into  action,  soon  decided  the  fortune  of  the  day,  and  the 
Americans  had  to  retreat.  The  loss  in  this  action  was  very  considerable  on  the  American 
side.  Col.  Hale,  who  had  not  brought  his  regiment,  which  consisted  of  militia,  into  action, 
although  ordered  so  to  do,  in  attempting  to  escape  by  flight  fell  in  with  an  inconsiderable 
party  of  the  enemy,  and  surrendered  himself,  and  a  number  of  his  men,  prisoners.  In 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  the  Americans  lost  in  this  action  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  men,  and  the  British  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  in  killed  and  wounded.” 


FRANKLIN  COUNTY. 


Franklin  county,  taken  from  Clinton  in  1808,  is  centrally  distant 
from  New  York  287,  from  Albany  NW.  142  miles.  Greatest  length 
60,  greatest  breadth  30  miles.  The  high  northern  latitude  sufficiently 
indicates  the  rigors  of  the  climate.  The  forests  are  very  dense,  con¬ 
sisting  of  trees  of  immense  size.  In  the  southwestern  part  are  some 
lofty  ridges  of  mountains,  but  of  all  the  rest  a  large  portion  is  rather 
level  than  hilly.  The  settlements  are  almost  wholly  in  the  northern 
part,  extending  about  15  miles  S.  from  the  N.  line,  and  even  here  are 
sparse  ;  much  the  larger  portion  of  the  county  being  as  yet  covered 
with  the  primitive  forests.  The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam,  occasionally 
mixed  with  clay,  and  stony.  The  fields  commonly  among  thrifty  farm¬ 
ers  are  fenced  with  stones  gathered  from  the  surface.  Some  wheat 
is  raised,  but  it  is  an  uncertain  crop,  whilst  grass,  oats,  barley,  corn, 
&c.,  generally  are  very  productive.  No  portion  of  the  state  is  per¬ 
haps  better  adapted  to  the  sugar-beet.  Grazing  and  lumbering  are 
the  chief  pursuit  of  the  inhabitants,  who  find  their  market  upon  the 
St.  Lawrence  river.  The  county  is  divided  into  13  towns,  viz. : 


Bangor,  Chateaugay, 
Belmont,  Constable, 
Bombay,  Dickinson, 
Brandon,  Duane, 


Fort  Covington,  Westville. 
Franklin, 

Malone, 

Moira, 


Malone,  the  county  seat,  is  51  miles  W.  from  Plattsburg,  and  212 
from  Albany.  It  is  a  village  of  about  100  dwellings,  3  churches,  the 
Franklin  Academy,  a  bank,  and  a  number  of  manufacturing  establish¬ 
ments.  It  is  situated  on  both  sides  of  Salmon  river,  and  is  well  sup¬ 
plied  with  water  power.  Fort  Covington,  formerly  called  French 
Mills,  is  a  village  of  about  130  dwellings,  on  Salmon  river,  5  miles 
from  the  St.  Lawrence,  223  miles  from  Albany.  It  contains  4 


FRANKLIN  COUNTY. 


101 


churches,  an  academy,  and  a  number  of  extensive  factories  and 
mills. 

The  Indian  village  of  St.  Regis  lies  on  the  left  bank  of  the  St.  Regis 
river,  upon  the  northern  boundary  of  this  county.  The  present  or  late 
chief  of  the  St.  Regis  Indians,  is  or  was  a  descendant  of  the  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  John  Williams,  the  minister  of  Deerfield,  Mass.,  who  was 
with  most  of  his  family  and  neighbors  taken  prisoner  to  Canada  in 
1704.  Mr.  Williams  was  carried  to  Lake  Champlain,  and  from  thence 
to  Montreal  and  Quebec.  In  1706,  a  flag-ship  was  dispatched  to  the 
latter  place,  and  Mr.  Williams  and  57  other  captives  were  redeemed 
and  sent  to  Boston  :  all  his  children  returned  with  the  exception  of  his 
daughter  Eunice,  who,  at  the  age  of  10  years,  was  left  behind.  She 
adopted  the  manners  of  the  Indians,  to  one  of  whom  she  was  married, 
and  became  converted  to  the  Catholic  faith.  Some  time  after  the  war, 
she,  with  her  husband,  visited  her  relations  at  Deerfield,  dressed  in  the 
Indian  costume  ;  and  though  every  persuasive  was  in  vain  tried  to  in¬ 
duce  her  to  abandon  him  and  remain  among  her  connections,  she  still 
persisted  in  wearing  her  blanket  and  counting  her  beads,  and  returned 
to  Canada,  where  she  ended  her  days.  Her  descendants  still  continue 
to  visit  their  relatives  in  New  England,  by  whom  they  are  hospitably 
received.  One  of  them,  by  the  name  of  Eleazer  Williams,  has  been 
educated  by  his  friends  in  New  England,  and  employed  as  a  mission¬ 
ary  to  the  Indians  at  Green  Bay.  Mr.  Williams  some  years  since, 
when  on  a  visit  to  Canada,  found  the  Bible  of  his  great-grandfather, 
the  Rev.  John  Williams,  with  his  name  in  it.  He  states,  that  when 
Deerfield  was  destroyed,  the  Indians  took  a  small  church  bell,  which 
is  now  hanging  in  the  Indian  church  at  St.  Regis.  It.  was  conveyed 
on  a  sledge  as  far  as  Lake  Champlain  and  buried,  and  was  afterward 
taken  up  and  conveyed  to  Canada. 

The  first  standard  captured  from  the  enemy  in  the  late  war  was 
taken  at  this  place  by  Major  Guilford  Dudley  Young,  on  the  22d  of 
Oct.,  1812.  The  following  account  of  this  event  is  extracted  from 
newspapers  published  at  the  time  : 

“  Major  Young,  of  the  Troy  militia,  commandant  of  a  detachment  stationed  at  French 
Mills,  on  the  St.  Regis  river,  having  received  information  that  a  party  of  the  enemy  had 
arrived  at  the  village  of  St.  Regis,  and  that  more  were  shortly  expected,  formed  a  resolu¬ 
tion  to  take  them  before  they  were  reinforced.  For  this  purpose,  he  marched  a  detach¬ 
ment,  at  11  o’clock  on  the  night  of  the  21st  of  October,  crossed  the  river  at  Gray’s  Mills 
about  3,  and  at  5  in  the  morning  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  the  village  unexpected  by 
the  enemy.  Here  the  major  made  such  a  judicious  disposition  of  his  men,  that  the  enemy 
were  entirely  surrounded,  and  after  a  few  discharges,  surrendered  themselves  prisoners 
with  the  loss  of  5  killed.  The  result  of  this  affair  was  the  capture  of  40  prisoners  with 
their  arms,  equipments,  &c.,  one  stand  of  colors  and  two  batteaux,  without  a  man  of  our 
party  being  hurt.  They  got  safe  back  to  camp  at  11  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The 
prisoners  were  sent  off  to  Plattsburg.  Major  Young  has  thus  had  the  honor  of  taking  the 
first  standard  from  the  enemy  in  the  present  war.’’ 


102 


FULTON  COUNTY. 


FULTON  COUNTY. 

Fulton  county  was  taken  from  the  northern  part  of  Montgomery 
county  in  1838  ;  NW.  from  Albany  40  miles  ;  length  E.  and  W.  32 
miles,  breadth  N.  and  S.  17.  The  surface  of  the  northern  part  of  this 
county  is  hilly,  with  some  ranges  of  a  mountainous  character.  The 
Kayaderosseras  rauge  of  mountains  enters  the  county  on  the  NE.,  but 
sinks  to  the  general  level  in  the  town  of  Northampton.  The  county  is 
well  watered  and  contains  several  small  lakes.  It  is  divided  into  9 
towns. 

Bleecker,  Johnstown,  Oppenheim, 

Broadalbin,  Mayfield,  Perth, 

Ephratah,  Northampton,  Stratford. 


Southern  view  of  Johnstown. 

Johnstown,  originally  named  Caughnawaga,  was  founded  about  the 
year  1770,  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  who  resided  here  during  the  lat¬ 
ter  period  of  his  life,  essentially  in  the  rank,  and  with  much  of  the 
splendor  of  a  nobleman.  Sir  William  and  his  family,  by  various 
means,  became  possessed  of  vast  tracts  of  valuable  land  in  this  section 
of  the  country,  and  had  many  tenants  and  retainers  under  them. 
Their  great  possessions,  however,  were  confiscated  during  the  revo¬ 
lutionary  war,  on  account  of  their  adherence  to  the  British  cause. 
The  village  of  Johnstown  is  about  4  miles  N.  of  Fonda,  the  seat  of 
justice  for  Montgomery  county,  and  44  from  Albany.  The  accom¬ 
panying  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  the  village  as  viewed 
from  the  first  elevation  south,  on  the  road  to  Caughnawaga  or  Fonda 
village.  The  courthouse  is  the  first  building  seen  on  the  left  with  a 
spire  ;  Mayfield  mountains  appear  in  the  extreme  distance.  The  vil¬ 
lage  contains  a  bank,  an  academy,  4  churches — 1  Presbyterian,  1 
Episcopal,  1  Dutch  Reformed,  and  1  Methodist — and  about  250 


FULTON  COUNTY. 


103 


dwellings.  It  is  situated  on  a  handsome  plain,  skirted  on  the  N. 
and  W.  by  Cayadutta  creek,  and  on  the  S.  by  a  hill  of  moderate  ele¬ 
vation.  It  was  regularly  laid  out  by  Henry  Oothoudt,  Jeremiah  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  Christopher  P.  Yates,  state  commissioners,  in  1784, 
and  was  incorporated  in  1807. 

About  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  this  village  is  a  house  built  by 
Sir  William  Johnson,  called  “  Johnson  Hall.”  This  was  the  place  of 
resort  for  the  sachems  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  all  the  Mohawks  re¬ 
paired  thither  to  receive  their  presents  from  the  British  government. 

William  Johnson  was  born  in  Ireland,  about  the  year  1714;  he 
was  a  nephew  of  Sir  Peter  Warren,  the  naval  commander  who  dis¬ 
tinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg  in  1745.  Sir  Peter  hav¬ 
ing  married  a  sister  of  Chief-justice  De  Lancey  of  New  York,  pur¬ 
chased  a  large  track  of  land  on  the  Mohawk,  and  about  the  year 
1734,  sent  for  his  nephew  to  come  to  America  and  superintend  this 
estate.  Young  Johnson  first  established  himself  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Schoharie,  afterward  erected  a  house  in  the  town  of  Amsterdam, 
and  subsequently  the  hall  at  Johnstown.  To  fulfil  the  duties  of  his 
commission,  he  learned  the  language  of  the  Indians,  studied  their 
manners  and  cultivated  their  acquaintance.  His  situation  between 
Albany  and  Oswego,  presented  a  fine  opportunity  for  trade,  and  he 
carried  on  a  large  traffic  with  them,  supplying  them  with  goods,  and 
receiving  in  return  beaver  and  other  skins.  By  a  course  of  sagacious 
measures,  he  obtained  an  influence  over  the  Indians  greater  than  was 
ever  possessed  by  any  other  white  man. 

“  Sir  William  Johnson  possessed  considerable  talents  as  an  orator, 
and  his  influence  over  the  Indians  was  not  a  little  owing  to  the  im¬ 
pression  made  upon  them  by  means  of  his  elocution . He  had 

wives  and  concubines,  sons  and  daughters,  of  different  colors.”  By 
Lady  Johnson  he  had  3  children — 1  son  and  2  daughters.  His  son, 
Sir  John  Johnson,  took  side  with  the  British,  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  and  became  the  scourge  of  the  Mohawk  valley.  One  of  the 
daughters  married  Col.  Claus,  and  the  other  Sir  Guy  Johnson.  Sir 
William  died  suddenly,  at  Johnson  Hall,  July  11th,  1774,  aged  60 
years  ;  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  in  his  title,  and  also  to  his  post 
as  major-general  of  the  militia. 

The  following  anecdote  respecting  Sir  William,  seems  to  evince,  that  in  his  dealings 
with  the  Indians,  who  have  a  good  reputation  for  cunning,  he  was  not  outwitted.  Hen¬ 
drick,  the  chief  of  the  Mohawks,  was  at  the  house  of  Sir  William  when  he  received 
several  rich  suits  of  laced  clothes.  Soon  after,  the  chief  came  to  him  and  said,  “  I 
dream.”  “Well!  what  did  you  dream?”  “I  dream  you  give  me  one  suit  of  clothes.” 
This  hint  could  not  be  mistaken  or  well  avoided,  and  accordingly  Hendrick  received  a 
suit.  Some  time  afterward  Sir  William,  meeting  Hendrick,  said  to  him,  “  I  dreamed  last 
night.”  “  Did  you  !  What  did  you  dream?”  “I  dreamed  you  gave  me  a  tract  of 
land,”  describing  it.  Hendrick  at  first  paused  at  the  enormity  of  the  demand,  but  at 
length  said,  “  You  may  have  the  land ;  but  we  no  dream  again,  you  dream  too  hard  for 
me.”  The  tract  of  land  thus  obtained,  is  stated  to  have  been  12  miles  square,  in  the 
present  county  of  Herkimer  ;  the  title  to  it  was  confirmed  by  the  king,  and  was  called 
the  “  Royal  Grant.” 


The  power  which  Sir  William  Johnson  acquired  over  the  Indians 


104 


FULTON  COUNTY. 


descended  to  his  son  and  to  his  nephew,  Col.  Guy  Johnson,  who  suc¬ 
ceeded  him  in  the  agency  of  Indian  affairs.  As  the  family  had  de¬ 
rived  most  of  their  wealth  and  consideration  from  the  crown,  they 
were,  as  might  be  supposed,  devoted  loyalists.  In  1775,  Gen.  Schuy¬ 
ler  prevailed  upon  the  Indians  to  agree  to  be  neutral  in  the  coming 
conflict.  It  appeared,  however,  that  the  influence  of  the  Johnson 
family  prevailed  with  the  Indians,  and  induced  them  to  join  the 
British  cause.  It  also  appeared  that  Sir  John  was  fortifying  his 
house  and  arming  the  Scotch  Highlanders,  his  tenants  and  adherents. 
Congress  having  heard  of  these  movements,  sent  Gen.  Schuyler  to 
disarm  these  persons,  and  take  other  measures  to  secure  the  tranquillity 
of  Tryon  county.  Schuyler  set  out  on  this  mission  with  700  militia, 
but  before  he  reached  Caughnawaga  his  force  had  increased  to  three 
thousand.  At  Schenectady  a  deputation  of  Mohawks  under  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  the  Johnsons  met  him,  and  with  much  artfulness  endea¬ 
vored  to  dissuade  him  from  advancing.  On  the  16th  of  January, 
1776,  Gen.  Schuyler  despatched  a  letter  to  Sir  John,  requesting  him 
to  meet  him  on  the  morrow  ;  they  accordingly  met,  and  after  some 
subsequent  delay,  he  and  the  Scotch  gentlemen  agreed  to  make  a 
delivery  of  the  arms  of  the  inhabitants.  Sir  John  likewise  agreed 
that  he  would  not  go  westward  of  German  Flats  and  Kinsland  dis¬ 
trict,  and  that  six  Scotch  inhabitants  might  be  taken  as  hostages.  On 
the  19th,  Schuyler  marched  into  Johnstown  and  drew  up  his  men  in 
a  line ;  the  Highlanders  were  drawn  up  facing  them,  and  grounded 
their  arms.  The  military  stores  were  surrendered :  and  this  service 
being  performed,  Schuyler  and  the  militia  returned.  It  was  found 
afterward  that  the  Highlanders  had  not  delivered  up  their  broad¬ 
swords  or  ammunition. 

Gen.  Herkimer  was  left  by  Gen.  Schuyler  to  complete  the  disarm¬ 
ing  of  the  hostile  inhabitants.  Sir  John,  notwithstanding  his  word  of 
honor,  continued  his  hostile  intrigues  with  the  Indians,  and  otherwise 
forfeited  his  promises.  It  was  found  necessary  to  secure  him,  and  in 
May,  1776,  Col.  Dayton  was  sent  on  this  duty.  The  tories  in  Al¬ 
bany  gave  notice  to  Sir  John  of  his  approach,  and  the  knight  and  his 
followers  fled  to  the  woods,  and  escaped  to  Canada,  arriving  at  Mon¬ 
treal  after  nineteen  days  of  suffering  and  starvation.  He  left  his  re¬ 
sidence  in  much  haste :  an  iron  chest  with  the  family  Bible  and  papers 
were  buried  in  the  garden.  On  arriving  in  Canada,  the  baronet  was 
commissioned  a  British  colonel,  and  raised  the  regiment  of  tories  called 
the  Royal  Greens.  By  his  adherence  to  the  British,  his  immense  estate 
was  forfeited,  and  this  appears  to  have  inspired  him  with  implacable 
revenge.  On  Sunday,  the  21st  of  May,  1780,  at  dead  of  night,  Sir 
John  Johnson,  with  a  force  of  about  500  men,  part  of  whom  were 
Indians,  made  an  incursion  into  Johnstown.  He  had  penetrated  the 
country  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  to  Crown  Point,  and  thence 
through  the  woods  to  the  Sacondaga  river.  The  following  account 
oi  this  incursion  is  from  a  newspaper  published  June  15th,  1780. 

“By  the  latest  intelligence  from  Schenectady,  we  are  informed  that  Sir  John  Johnson, 
(who  styles  himself  Lieut,  colonel  commanding  the  King’s  Royal  Yorkers,  in  the  parcels 


FULTON  COUNTY. 


105 


given  to  some  of  the  prisoners,)  on  Lord’s  day  evening,  the  21st  ult.,  made  his  first  appearance 
at  Johnson  Hall,  undiscovered  by  any  but  his  friends,  who  no  doubt  were  in  the  secret. 
On  Monday,  about  daybreak,  they  began  to  burn  all  the  houses  except  those  of  the  tories, 
beginning  at  Aaron  Putnam’s,  below  Tripe’s  Hill,  and  continued  burning  to  Anthony’s 
Nose,  or  Acker’s  house,  except  a  few  which  by  the  vigilance  of  the  people  were  put  out 
after  the  enemy  had  set  them  on  fire.  There  have  been  burnt  33  houses  and  out-houses 
and  a  mill ;  many  cattle  were  killed  in  the  field,  and  60  or  70  sheep  burnt  in  a  barn. 
Eleven  persons  were  killed.  Col.  Fisher  [Visscher]  and  his  two  brothers  fought  with  great 
bravery,  when  the  two  brothers  were  killed  and  scalped  ;  the  colonel  went  up  stairs  and  there 
defended  himself,  but  being  overpowered,  was  knocked  down  and  scalped,  on  which  they 
plundered  the  house,  set  it  on  fire,  and  then  went  off.  The  colonel  recovering  a  little,  though 
he  was  left  by  the  enemy  for  dead,  he  pulled  one  of  his  dead  brothers  out  of  the  house  then 
in  flames ;  the  other  was  consumed  in  the  house.  It  is  said  that  the  doctors  have  hopes 
that  Col.  Fisher  will  recover.  His  mother  had  a  narrow  escape  for  her  life,  being  knocked 
on  her  head  by  an  Indian ;  but  she  is  like  to  do  well.  Capt.  Hansen  was  killed  by  an  In¬ 
dian,  who  had  formerly  been  used  by  him  with  kindness,  and  professed  much  gratitude. 
Old  Mr.  Fonda  was  cut  in  several  parts  of  his  head  with  a  tomahawk.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  alertness  of  Mr.  Van  Vrank,  probably  more  would  have  been  butchered  by  their 
savage  hands ;  he  alarmed  the  people  along  the  way  to  Caughnawaga,  who  by  crossing 
the  river  saved  their  lives.  Having  done  all  the  mischief  to  the  distressed  inhabitants  they 
possibly  could,  they  returned  to  Johnson  Hall  in  the  afternoon  ;  when  Johnson  dug  up  his 
plate,  and  about  sundown  marched  for  the  Scotch  Bush,  about  four  miles  that  evening.  He 
has  15  or  20  of  his  negroes  who  had  been  sold  ;  several  of  his  tenants  and  others  have  gone 
with  him.  He  has  permitted  some  of  his  prisoners  to  return  on  parole.  His  whole  force 
when  he  landed  at  Crown  Point,  is  said  to  be  about  500  men,  200  of  them  British,  part  of 
his  own  regiment,  and  Indians.  Capt.  Putnam  and  four  men  followed  them  in  their  retreat 
four  days,  on  their  way  to  Lake  Champlain.  He  saw  him  24  miles  from  Johnson  Hall. 
Some  think  they  will  take  their  route  to  Oswagatchie  ;  but  this  seems  improbable,  as  they 
have  not  provisions  sufficient  with  them.  His  excellency  the  governor  has  collected  a 
body  of  militia  to  intercept  their  way  to  Lake  Champlain  ;  a  number  have  also  marched 
from  the  New  Hampshire  grants  for  the  same  purpose :  Col.  Van  Schaick,  with  800  men, 
is  in  pursuit  of  him  by  the  way  of  Johnstown.  We  hear  that  the  enemy  had  their  feet 
much  swelled  by  their  long  march  ;  and  being  greatly  fatigued,  it  is  hoped  our  people  may 
come  up  with  and  give  a  good  account  of  the  Lieut,  colonel  and  his  murdering  banditti.” 

In  the  summer  of  1781,  another  expedition  was  sent  against  Johns¬ 
town.  This  was  conducted  with  so  much  secrecy,  that  on  the  24th 
of  Oct.,  the  enemy,  about  one  thousand  in  number,  under  Majors  Ross 
and  Butler,  were  upon  the  settlement  at  Warrensbush  before  their 
approach  was  suspected.  Col.  Willet,  who  was  at  Fort  Rensselaer 
about  twenty  miles  distant,  on  hearing  the  news,  immediately  marched 
for  Fort  Hunter,  which  he  reached  early  on  the  following  morning 
with  all  the  forces  he  could  muster,  being  but  416  men  in  all.  When 
he  arrived  here,  he  learned  that  Ross  and  Butler  had  the  preceding 
day  crossed  the  river  some  distance  below  Tripe’s  Hill,  and  arrived 
at  Johnstown  about  the  middle  of  the  day,  killing  and  taking  the  peo¬ 
ple  prisoners,  destroying  buildings  and  cattle  on  their  way.  Having 
effected  the  passage  of  the  river,  Col.  Willet  pushed  on  in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy.  Having  ascertained  their  position,  he  detached  Major 
Rowley,  of  Massachusetts,  with  part  of  his  force,  by  a  circuitous 
march,  to  fall  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy  while  he  attacked  them  in 
front,  a  short  distance  above  the  Hall.  The  battle  became  spirited 
and  general,  but  the  militia  under  Col.  Willet  gave  way,  and  ran  in 
the  utmost  confusion  to  the  stone  church  in  the  village.  Here  the 
colonel  succeeded  in  bringing  them  to  a  halt.  But  the  defeat  would 
have  been  complete,  had  not  Major  Rowley,  at  this  period  of  the  ac¬ 
tion,  emerged  from  the  woods  and  fell  upon  the  enemy’s  rear  in  the 

14 


106 


FULTON  COUNTY. 


very  moment  of  their  exultation  at  their  easy  victory.  The  fight 
was  now  maintained  on  both  sides  with  obstinacy  till  near  sunset, 
when  Willet  was  enabled  to  collect  a  respectable  force,  with  which 
he  returned  to  the  field,  and  again  mingled  in  the  fight.  The  battle 
was  kept  up  till  dark,  when  the  enemy,  pressed  on  all  sides,  fled  in 
disorder  to  the  woods — nor  stopped  short  of  a  mountain  six  miles 
distant.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  conflict  was  about  forty. 
The  enemy  lost  about  the  same  number  killed,  and  about  fifty  pris¬ 
oners. 

“  Major  Ross  retreated  up  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk,  marching  all  night,  after  the 
battle.  In  the  morning  he  was  pursued  by  Col.  Willet,  but  was  not  overtaken.  The  re¬ 
gion  of  country  over  which  Ross  retreated,  after  he  had  passed  the  settlements,  lies  twenty 
or  thirty  miles  north  of  Fort  Schuyler,  and  at  that  time  was  uncultivated  and  desolate. 
His  army  suffered  much  from  hunger.— It  was  on  this  retreat  that  Walter  Butler  was 
killed:  he  was  pursued  by  a  small  party  of  Oneida  Indians  ;  when  he  arrived  at  West 
Canada  creek,  about  15  miles  above  Herkimer,  he  swam  his  horse  across  the  stream,  and 
then  turning  round,  defied  his  pursuers,  who  were  on  the  opposite  side.  An  Oneida  imme¬ 
diately  discharged  his  rifle  and  wounded  him  ;  he  fell.  Throwing  down  his  rifle  and  his 
blanket,  the  Indian  plunged  into  the  creek  and  swam  across  ;  as  soon  as  he  had  gained 
the  opposite  bank,  he  raised  his  tomahawk,  and  with  a  yell,  sprang  like  a  tiger  upon  his 
fallen  foe.  Butler  supplicated,  though  in  vain,  for  mercy  ;  the  Oneida,  with  his  uplifted 
axe,  shouted  in  his  broken  English,  ‘  Sherry  Valley  !  remember  Sherry  Valley  !'  and 
then  buried  it  in  his  brains  :  he  tore  the  scalp  from  the  head  of  his  victim  still  quivering 
in  the  agonies  of  death,  and  ere  the  remainder  of  the  Oneidas  had  joined  him,  the  spirit 
of  Walter  Butler  had  gone  to  give  up  its  account.  The  place  where  he  crossed  is  called 
Butler's  Ford  to  this  day.” — Campbell’s  Annals  of  Tryon  County. 


The  above  is  a  copy  of  a  kind  of  diploma,  in  possession  of  the 
New  York  Historical  Society,  which  it  would  seem  the  Johnson  fam¬ 
ily  were  in  the  habit  of  giving  to  those  Indians  in  whom  they  confided. 
In  the  vignette,  a  British  officer  is  seen  presenting  a  medal,  or  some¬ 
thing  resembling  it,  to  an  Indian  dressed  in  the  aboriginal  style, — 
the  council  fire,  the  pipe  of  peace,  the  chain  of  friendship,  &c.,  are 
all  represented. 

By  the  Honorable  Sir  William  Johnson,  Bart.,  His  Majesty’s  sole  Agent  and  Super- 


GENESEE  COUNTY. 


107 


intendent  of  Indian  Affairs  for  the  Northern  Department  of  North  America,  Colonel  of 
the  Six  United  Nations,  their  Allies  and  Dependants,  &c.  &c. 

“  To  Whereas,  I  have  received  repeated  proofs  of  your  attachment  to  his 

Britannic  Majesty’s  Interests  and  Zeal  for  his  service  upon  sundry  occasions,  more  par¬ 
ticularly  I  do  therefore  give  you  this  public  Testimonial  thereof,  as  a  proof 

of  his  Majesty’s  Esteem  and  Approbation,  Declaring  you,  the  said  to  be  a 

of  your  and  recommending  it  to  all  his  Majesty’s  Subjects  and  faithful  Indian  Al¬ 

lies  to  Treat  and  consider  you  upon  all  occasions  agreeable  to  your  character,  Station  and 
services.  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Arms  at  Johnson  Hall  the  day  of  17 

By  Command  of  Sir  W :  Johnson. 


GENESEE  COUNTY. 

Genesee  county  was  taken  from  Ontario  in  1802,  and  has  since 
been  much  reduced  by  the  formation  of  several  counties  from  it ; 
centrally  distant  from  New  York  321,  from  Albany  258  miles.  This 
county  pertains  to  the  great  plain  of  the  west,  and  forms  with  Wyo¬ 
ming  the  highest  portion  of  it.  Upon  the  west,  the  streams  run  to 
Lake  Erie,  and  on  the  east  to  the  Genesee  river  :  as  in  limestone 
countries  generally,  the  streams  are  subject  to  much  fluctuation. 
The  soil  is  generally  highly  fertile,  and  produces  as  fine  crops  of 
wheat  as  any  part  of  the  state.  By  the  recent  erection  of  Wyoming 
county  from  the  southern  portion,  this  county  is  reduced  to  twelve 
towns,  viz. : 

Alabama,  Bergen,  Darien,  Pavilion, 

Alexander,  Bethany,  Elba,  Pembroke, 

Batavia,  Byron,  Le  Roy,  Stafford. 

Batavia,  the  shire  village,  is  by  the  railroad  283  miles  W.  of  Al¬ 
bany.  It  contains  about  300  houses,  mostly  on  a  single  street  up¬ 
wards  of  a  mile  long,  the  county  buildings,  the  state  arsenal,  the  office 
of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  5  churches,  2  banks,  3  printing 
offices,  and  a  female  seminary.  This  place  has  acquired  some 
celebrity  from  its  being  the  place  from  whence  William  Morgan  was 
abducted  in  1826,  for  attempting  to  reveal  the  secrets  of  Free-Ma- 
sonry. 

The  following  is  an  eastern  view  of  the  office  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company  in  Batavia,  about  80  rods  northward  from  the  court¬ 
house.  The  state  of  New  York,  in  1786,  granted  the  state  of  Massa¬ 
chusetts  more  than  six  million  acres  of  her  western  territory,  which 
that  state  sold  to  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham  for  one  mil¬ 
lion  of  dollars.  These  gentlemen  soon  after  extinguished  the  In¬ 
dian  title  to  a  part  of  this  territory ;  they  surveyed  it  into  tracts,  de¬ 
nominated  ranges  and  townships,  and  sold  large  parcels  to  specu¬ 
lators  and  actual  settlers.  In  1790,  they  sold  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
residue  of  the  survey,  1,204,000  acres,  to  Robert  Morris,  of  Philadel¬ 
phia,  for  eight  pence  the  acre,  who  resold  it  to  Sir  William  Pultney. 
Phelps  and  Gorham  being  unable  to  fulfil  their  contract  in  full  with 
Massachusetts,  compromised  and  surrendered  that  part  of  the  land  to 


108 


GREENE  COUNTY. 


Office  of  the  Holland  Land  Company. 

which  the  Indian  title  was  unextinguished  ;  in  consideration  of  which, 
the  state  relinquished  two-thirds  of  the  contract  price.  In  1796,  Rob¬ 
ert  Morris  purchased  from  the  state  this  portion  also — extinguished  the 
Indian  title — sold  off  several  large  tracts  upon  the  east  side,  and  along 
the  Genesee,  and  mortgaged  the  residue  to  Wilhem  Willink,  of  Am¬ 
sterdam,  and  1 1  associates,  called  the  “  Holland  Land  Company 
This  company,  by  the  foreclosure  of  the  mortgage,  acquired  full  title 
to  the  land,  surveyed  it,  and  opened  their  first  land-office  in  Batavia  in 
1801.  “  Having  sold  a  large  proportion  of  the  country,  they,  in  1805, 

conveyed  the  residue  of  the  wild  lands  to  several  companies,  who  have 
undertaken  to  retail  them.” 

Le  Roy  village,  on  Allen’s  creek,  10  miles  E.  of  Batavia,  was 
founded  in  1810,  by  Mr.  Le  Roy,  and  incorporated  in  1834.  It 
contains  about  250  dwellings,  4  churches,  and  a  female  seminary.  Al¬ 
exander,  8  miles  S.  of  Batavia,  is  a  village  of  about  80  dwellings,  2 
churches,  a  bank,  and  a  flourishing  incorporated  classical  school. 


GREENE  COUNTY. 

Greene  county,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson  river,  was  taken 
from  Ulster  and  Albany  counties  in  1 800  ;  greatest  length  42  miles ; 
greatest  breadth  on  the  Hudson  28  miles ;  centrally  distant  from 
New  York  130,  and  from  Albany  35  miles.  The  surface  is  every¬ 
where  hilly,  and  the  larger  portion  mountainous.  The  Cattskill 
mountains,  after  following  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county  in  an 
easterly  direction  to  the  southeast  angle,  turn  north  and  northwest,  and 
pass  nearly  through  the  centre  of  the  county  into  Schoharie.  The 
general  elevation  of  this  range  is  from  2,000  to  2,500  feet  above  the 
adjacent  country  ;  while  many  of  the  peaks  are  elevated  from  3,000  to 
3,800  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Hudson.  Round  Top  has  an  eleva¬ 
tion  of  3.718  feet,  High  Peak  3,804,  and  Pine  Orchard  3,000  feet. 
The  whole  southwestern  part  of  the  county  is  hilly  and  mountainous, 


GREENE  COUNTY. 


109 


yet  it  affords  a  fine  soil  for  pastures,  with  some  arable  land.  The 
northeastern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  county  are  less  hilly,  and  have 
many  valleys,  rich  and  extensive.  Much  attention  is  paid  to  agricul¬ 
ture,  and  more  leather  is  manufactured  in  this  than  in  any  other  county 
in  the  state.  The  county  was  originally  settled  by  the  Dutch.  A  large 
proportion,  however,  of  the  present  inhabitants  are  of  New  England 
descent,  and  are  noted  for  morality  and  industry.  The  county  is  di¬ 
vided  into  1 1  towns  : 


Athens,  Coxsackie,  Hunter,  Prattsville, 

Cairo,  Durham,  Lexington,  Windham. 

Cattskill,  Greenville,  New-Baltimore, 


The  village  of  Catskill  was  incorporated  in  1806,  and  is  the  seat  of 
justice  for  the  county.  The  village  is  principally  built  in  the  deep 
valley  of  the  Catskill,  between  which  and  the  Hudson  is  a  bluff  150 
feet  in  height.  The  annexed  engraving  is  a  NW.  view  of  the  village, 
as  seen  from  an  elevation  called  Ashley  Hill,  at  its  northern  extremity. 
The  drawbridge  over  the  Catskill  is  seen  on  the  right,  and  will  admit 
the  passage  of  sloops  some  distance  above  it.  The  mouth  of  the  creek 
makes  a  good  harbor  for  sloops  ;  and  a  long  and  broad  dike,  walled 
with  stone,  connects  the  shore  with  an  island  in  the  river,  affording  a 
place  for  buildings,  and  a  commodious  landing  for  steamboats.  The 
principal  street  in  the  village  is  about  half  a  mile  in  extent,  having 
quite  a  business-like  appearance.  The  steamboat  landing  is  about  one 
mile  distant.  There  are  in  the  village  1  Dutch  Reformed,  1  Episco¬ 
pal,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Methodist  church.  There  are  2 
banks,  2  newspaper  establishments,  and  about  300  dwellings.  Distant 
6  miles  from  Hudson,  111  miles  from  New  York,  and  33  from  Al¬ 
bany. 

“  Although  not  in  the  town,  yet  as  connected  by  name  and  many 
relations  with  Catskill,  we  may  describe  here  the  Pine  Orchard  and 
Mountain  House,  noted  attractions  to  tourists.  They  are  in  Hunter, 


110 


GREENE  COUNTY. 


near  its  eastern  boundary,  12  miles  west  from  Catskill  village.  The 
road  from  the  village  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  9  miles,  has  little 
of  interest.  The  ascent  of  the  mountain  is  by  a  good  though  circui¬ 
tous  road  of  3  miles,  but  which,  often  running  upon  the  brink  of  a  deep 
ravine,  or  beneath  frowning  precipices,  excites  an  unwelcome  degree 
of  terror.  The  hotel,  erected  by  ‘  The  Kaatskill  Mountain  Associa¬ 
tion,’  at  the  cost  of  -$22,000,  is  on  a  circular  platform  of  rock,  140  feet 
by  24,  4  stories  high,  with  piazzas  in  front,  and  a  wing  for  lodging 
rooms,  and  is  duly  fitted  and  furnished  for  the  accommodation  of  its 
numerous  guests. 


Catskill  Mountain  House. 

“  The  prospect  from  this  rock  is  more  extensive  and  diversified 
than,  perhaps,  from  any  other  point  in  the  United  States.  Petty  ine¬ 
qualities  disappear,  and  the  whole  surrounding  country  is  spread  out 
as  a  plain.  The  eye  roves,  in  endless  gratification,  over  farms,  vil¬ 
lages,  towns,  and  cities,  stretching  between  the  Green  mountains  of 
Vermont  on  the  north  and  the  Highlands.  The  Hudson  river,  with  its 
green  isles  and  thousand  sheets  of  white  canvass,  becomes  visible  for 
60  miles  in  a  clear  atmosphere.  At  times,  a  thick  curtain  of  clouds 
of  ever-changing  form,  veils  the  region  of  lower  earth  from  sight ;  and 
in  their  respective  seasons,  storms  of  rain  and  snow  spend  their  force 
in  mid  air,  beneath  the  rays  of  a  bright  sun  which  gilds  the  mountain 
above  them.  The  scene,  when  gradually  unfolded  with  the  day,  is 
most  enchanting. 

“  A  few  years  since  this  delightful  position  was  almost  unknown  and 
rarely  visited  ;  but  the  reports  of  the  extent,  beauty,  and  grandeur  of 
its  prospects,  and  the  salubrity  of  its  atmosphere,  at  length  fixed  pub¬ 
lic  attention.  The  number  of  visiters  at  each  successive  season  in- 


HAMILTON  COUNTY. 


Ill 


creased,  until  the  temporary  buildings  at  first  erected  gave  place  to  the 
edifice  we  have  described.  The  following  heights  on  the  mountain 
have  been  given  by  Capt.  Partridge  :  Mountain  house,  2,212  feet 
above  the  Hudson  ;  1,882  feet  above  Lawrence’s  tavern  ;  1,547  feet 
above  the  turnpike  gate,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  947  above 
Green’s  bridge. 

“Two  miles  from  the  hotel  are  the  Kaaterskill  Falls,  upon  a  stream 
flowing  from  two  lakes,  each  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in  circumference, 
and  about  a  half  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  After  a  west  course  of 
a  mile  and  a  half,  the  waters  fall  perpendicularly  175  feet,  and  paus¬ 
ing,  momentarily,  upon  the  ledge  of  a  rock,  precipitate  themselves  85 
feet  more,  making  the  whole  descent  of  the  cataract  260  feet.  Below 
this  point,  the  current  is  lost  in  the  dark  ravine  or  clove  through  which 
its  seeks  the  valley  of  the  Catskill.  The  water-fall,  with  all  its  bold¬ 
ness,  forms,  however,  but  one  of  the  interesting  features  of  this  scene. 
From  the  edge  of  the  first  falls  is  beheld  a  dreary  chasm,  whose  steep 
sides,  covered  with  dark  ivy  and  thick  summer  foliage,  seem  like  a 
green  bed  prepared  for  the  waters.  Making  a  circuit  from  this  spot, 
and  descending  about  midway  of  the  first  fall,  the  spectator  enters  an 
immense  natural  amphitheatre  behind  the  cascade,  roofed  by  a  magnifi¬ 
cent  ceiling  of  rock,  having  in  front  the  falling  torrent,  and  beyond  it 
the  wild  mountain  dell,  over  which  the  clear  blue  sky  is  visible.  The 
falls  on  the  west  branch  of  Kaaterskill  have  a  perpendicular  descent 
of  more  than  120  feet,  and  the  stream  descends  in  rapids  and  cascades 
400  feet  in  100  rods.  The  Kaaterskill  has  a  devious  and  very  rapid 
course  of  about  8  miles,  to  the  Catskill,  near  the  village.  The  falls 
are  best  seen  from  below  ;  and  the  view  from  the  Pine  Orchard  is 
better  between  3  o’clock,  P.  M.  and  at  sunset,  than  in  the  middle  of 
the  day.” 

Athens  village  was  incorporated  in  1805.  It  lies  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Hudson,  opposite  the  city  of  Hudson;  from  New  York  116, 
from  Albany  29  miles.  It  is  beautifully  situated,  extending  along  the 
shore  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  is  viewed  advantageously  from  the 
city  of  Hudson.  [See  view  of  Hudson.]  The  northern  section  of  the 
village  was  laid  out  about  1790,  by  Edward.  Livingston,  Brockholst 
Livingston,  Elihu  Chauncey  Goodrich,  and  associates  ;  the  southern 
in  1801,  by  Isaac  Northrop,  Alexander  Alexander,  Patrick  Hamilton, 
and  others.  The  village  now  contains  several  churches,  and  about 
150  dwellings.  It  is  a  place  of  much  business,  and  its  natural  advan¬ 
tages  are  such,  that  in  time  it  must  be  one  of  considerable  importance. 
A  ferry  plies  constantly  between  it  and  Hudson. 


HAMILTON  COUNTY. 

Hamilton  county  was  provisionally  erected,  in  1816,  from  the  N. 
end  of  Montgomery  county,  but  not  organized.  It  remained  attached 
to  Montgomery  county  until  1838;  when,  by  the  division  of  Mont- 


112 


HERKIMER  COUNTY. 


gomery,  it  became  attached  to  Fulton  county.  It  is  not  yet  separately 
organized  ;  though  probably  from  its  flourishing  condition  it  will  soon 
become  detached  from  Fulton.  It  is  62  miles  long  N.  and  S.,  and 
with  an  average  breadth,  E.  and  W.,  of  30  miles  ;  centrally  distant 
from  New  York  250,  and  from  Albany,  westerly,  105  miles.  This 
county  contains  7  towns  : 

Arietta,  Hope,  Long  Lake,  Wells. 

Gilman,  Lake  Pleasant,  Morehouse, 

The  whole  middle  and  northern  section  of  this  county  is  yet  an  un¬ 
broken  wilderness.  It  has  a  number  of  lakes  abounding  with  trout  and 
other  fish  of  a  delicious  flavor,  and  they  are  becoming  a  place  of  much 
resort  to  the  angler  and  sportsman.  Its  mineral  resources  are  as  yet 
little  known,  but  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  existence  of  iron  ore,  and 
many  other  valuable  minerals. 


HERKIMER  COUNTY. 


Herkimer  county  was  originally  constituted  in  1791.  Greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  90,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  23  miles.  Centrally 
distant  from  New  York  260,  from  Albany  115  miles.  This  county 
has  a  broken  and  diversified  aspect.  South  of  the  Mohawk,  within 
this  county,  is  the  great  dividing  ridge  separating  the  waters  of  the 
Mohawk  from  those  of  the  Susquehannah.  A  high  range  of  hills 
extends  across  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  at  the  Little  Falls,  and  the 
whole  county  north  of  the  Mohawk  is  of  a  mountainous  character. 
Most  of  the  county  south  of  the  Mohawk,  and  for  many  miles  north 
of  it,  is  under  cultivation,  which  the  greater  portion  of  the  hills  will 
admit  of  to  their  summits.  There  is  a  variety  of  soil,  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  county  is  better  adapted  for  grass  than  grain.  The  exten¬ 
sive  alluvial  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and  those  of  some  of  the  smaller 
streams,  are  among  the  finest  grain  lands  in  the  state.  The  northern 
part  of  the  county  is  elevated,  and  covered  with  extensive  forests  of 
evergreens  and  marshes,  and  is  of  a  cold  and  sterile  soil.  The  Mo¬ 
hawk  river  runs  across  its  whole  width. 

The  lands  of  this  county  were  originally  granted  in  large  tracts  ; 
such  were  the  “  Royal  Grant,”  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  embracing  the 
country  between  the  East  and  West  Canada  creeks  ;  the  “  Jerserfield 
patent,”  covering  a  larger  portion  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
made  in  1770  ;  the  “  German  Flats  patent,”  granted  in  1725,  and 
others.  The  county  has  19  towns,  viz. : 


Columbia, 
Danube, 
Fairfield, 
Frankfort, 
German  Flats, 


Herkimer, 
Litchfield, 
Little  Falls, 
Manheim, 
Newport, 


Norway, 

Ohio, 

Russia, 

Salisbury, 

Schuyler, 


Starks, 

Warren, 

Wilmurt, 

Winfield. 


HERKIMER  COUNTY. 


113 


The  following  shows  the  appearance  of  the  village  as  seen  from  an 
elevation  rising  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Mohawk  and  the  Erie 


View  of  Herkimer,  from  the  Erie  Canal. 


canal,  about  a  mile  distant.  The  village  was  incorporated  in  1  SOT- 
1825,  and  is  built  on  a  gravelly  plain  elevated  some  10  or  15  feet 
above  the  surrounding  flats,  occupying  the  site  of  the  ancient  Fort 
Dayton.  The  village  consists  of  upwards  of  100  dwellings,  the  county 
buildings,  1  Dutch  Reformed  and  1  Methodist  church,  a  printing  office, 
&c.  The  principal  street  runs  N.  and  S.,  and  is  about  half  a  mile  in 
extent  ;  the  railroad  passes  through  the  village  at  its  southern  extremi¬ 
ty.  Dist.  from  Albany  80,  Little  Falls  6  miles. 

The  following  account  of  the  destruction  of  this  place  by  the  tories 
and  Indians  in  1778,  is  from  Stone’s  Life  of  Brant. 

“  At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  the  settlement  on  the  south  side  of  the  river 
numbered  34  dwelling-houses,  and  there  were  about  an  equal  number  upon  the  north  side, 
together  with  as  many  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  several  mills.  The  population, 
for  the  number  of  houses,  was  numerous.  The  lands,  rich  by  nature,  and  well  cultivated, 
had  that  year  brought  forth  by  handfuls  ;  so  that  the  barns  were  amply  stored  with  their 
products. 

“  It  was  at  the  close  of  August,  or  early  in  the  month  of  September,  that  this  lino  dis¬ 
trict  was  laid  waste  by  the  Indians  under  the  direction  of  Brant.  Most  providentially, 
however,  the  invasion  was  attended  with  the  loss  of  but  two  lives — one  man  being  killed 
outright,  and  another,  named  McGinnis,  perished  in  the  flames.  The  particulars  of  this 
hostile  irruption  were  these : — Entertaining  some  suspicions  of  Brant,  who  was  at  Una- 
dilla,  a  scout  of  four  men  had  been  dispatched  into  that  vicinity  for  observation.  Three  » 
of  these  men  were  killed  at  the  Edmeston  settlement.  The  fourth,  John  Helmer,  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  making  his  escape,  and  returned  to  the  Flats  at  half  an  hour  before  sun-down, 
just  in  time  to  announce  that  Brant,  with  a  large  body  of  Indians,  was  advancing,  and 
would,  in  a  few  hours,  be  upon  them.  All  was,  of  course,  terror  and  alarm  through  the 
settlement ;  and  the  inhabitants — men,  women,  and  children — were  gathered  into  forts 
Dayton  and  Herkimer  for  security.  In  flying  to  those  defences,  they  gathered  up  the 
most  valuable  of  their  stuff,  and  by  means  of  boats  and  canoes  upon  the  river,  succeeded, 
in  the  course  of  the  evening,  in  collecting  a  large  portion  of  their  best  articles  of  furniture. 

But  they  had  no  time  to  look  after  their  flocks  and  herds. 

“  Early  in  the  evening  Brant  arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  settlement,  but  as  the  night 
came  on  excessively  dark  and  rainy,  he  halted  with  his  forces  in  a  ravine,  near  the  house 
of  his  tory  friend  Shoemaker,  where  the  younger  Butler  and  his  party  were  captured  the 

15 


114 


HERKIMER  COUNTY. 

preceding  year.  Here  the  chieftain  lay  with  his  warriors  until  the  storm  broke  away  to¬ 
wards  morning — unconscious  that  his  approach  had  been  notified  to  the  people  by  the 
scout  in  season  to  enable  them  to  escape  the  blow  of  his  uplifted  arm.  Before  the  dawn 
he  was  on  foot,  and  his  warriors  were  sweeping  through  the  settlement ;  so  that. the  torch 
might  be  almost  simultaneously  applied  to  every  building  it  contained.  Just  as  the  day 
was  breaking  in  the  east,  the  fires  were  kindled,  and  the  whole  section  of  the  valley  was 
speedily  illuminated  by  the  flames  of  houses  and  barns,  and  all  things  else  combustible. 
The  spectacle,  to  the  people  in  the  forts,  was  one  of  melancholy  grandeur.  Every  family 
saw  the  flames  and  smoke  of  its  own  domicil  ascending  to  the  skies,  and  every  farmer  the 
whole  product  of  his  labor  for  the  season  dissolving  into  ashes. 

“  Having  no  fire-arms  larger  than  their  rifles,  the  Indians  avoided  even  a  demonstra¬ 
tion  against  the  forts,  notwithstanding  their  chagrin  that  neither  scalps  nor  prisoners  were 
to  grace  their  triumph.  But  as  the  light  of  day  advanced,  their  warriors  were  seen  singly, 
or  in  small  groups,  scouring  the  fields,  and  driving  away  all  the  horses,  sheep,  and  black 
cattle  that  could  be  found.  Nothing  upon  which  they  could  lay  their  hands  was  left ;  and 
the  settlement,  which,  but  the  day  before,  for  ten  miles  had  smiled  in  plenty  and  in  beauty, 
was  now  houseless  and  destitute.  Happily,  however,  of  human  life  there  was  no  greater 
sacrifice  than  has  already  been  mentioned.  After  the  Indians  had  decamped  with  their 
booty,  a  force  of  between  300  and  400  militia-men  collected,  and  went  in  pursuit — follow¬ 
ing  as  far  as  Edmeston’s  plantation  on  the  Unadilla  river,  where  the  bodies  of  the  three 
scouts  were  found  and  buried.  But  no  other  results  attended  this  expedition.” 


Southern  view  of  part  of  the  Village  of  Little  Falls. 


The  engraving  shows  a  southern  view  of  part  of  the  village  as 
seen  from  a  point  about  20  rods  below  the  aqueduct  over  the  Mo¬ 
hawk.  The  village  consists  of  upwards  of  300  dwellings,  5  churches 
— viz.,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist,  1  Episcopal,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Cath¬ 
olic — a  bank,  an  academy,  2  newspaper  printing  offices,  and  various 
manufacturing  establishments.  The  village  is  supplied  with  water 
brought  from  a  spring  in  the  granite  mountain,  300  feet  above  the 
tops  of  the  houses.  The  singular  building  with  a  spire,  seen  in  me 
engraving  on  the  left,  on  elevated  ground,  is  the  oldest  church  in  the 
village,  formerly  used  by  the  Scotch  Presbyterians,  but  now  occupied 
by  the  Catholics. 

“  This  spot  is  remarkable  for  the  passage  of  the  Mohawk  river 
through  the  mountain  barrier  ;  for  its  wild  and  picturesque  scenery  ; 
and  lor  tl  e  difficulties  which  have  been  overcome  in  constructing  the 
Erie  canal  through  the  pass.  It  receives  ihe  name  of  the  Little  Falls, 


f 


HERKIMER  COUNTY. 


115 


in  contradistinction  to  the  Great  Falls  at  Cahoes.  The  falls  extend 
upon  the  river  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile,  descending  in  that  dis¬ 
tance  42  feet,  and  consist  of  two  long  rapids,  separated  by  a  stretch 
of  deep  water,  occupying  each  about  the  fourth  of  a  mile.  The  up¬ 
per  rapids  are  most  considerable.  Above  them  a  dam  across  the 
stream  renders  it  placid,  over  which  the  waters,  separated  by  a  small 
island,  form  beautiful  low  cascades,  falling  into  a  deep  pool  beneath, 
whence  the  current  rushes,  murmuring  and  foaming,  over  ridges  and 
amorphous  masses  of  granite  and  gneiss  rock,  flowing  with  compar¬ 
ative  gentleness  beneath  the  overarching  bridge  and  aqueduct,  and 
thence  hurrying,  with  new  impetuosity,  over  the  stony  bed  below. 

“  This  waterfall  would  be  beautiful  anywhere  ;  but  it  acquires 
grandeur  here  from  the  high  hills  which  confine  it,  and  which  the 
slightest  observation  teaches  us  have  been  cut  down  by  its  ever  en¬ 
during  and  irresistible  force.  The  defile  is  two  miles  long,  with  a 
medial  breadth  of  one  hundred  rods.  On  either  bank,  the  hill,  on 
which  deciduous  and  evergreen  trees  are  pleasingly  intermingled, 
rises  from  360  to  400  feet,  and  the  fall,  over  which  may  have  once 
poured  the  waters  of  Lake  Ontario,  may  have  had  a  very  little  infe¬ 
rior  altitude.  A  mound,  raised  here  to  the  height  of  70  feet,  would 
now  cause  the  waters  to  overflow  the  Rome  summit,  and  send  them 
again  by  Wood  creek  and  the  Oneida  lake  to  Ontario. 

“  The  Erie  canal  descends  this  pass  by  5  locks,  40  feet  in  the  distance 
of  one  mile,  and  the  time  of  the  passage  permits  the  traveller  in  boats 
to  view,  leisurely,  the  natural  scenery  and  artificial  improvements.” 

The  village  of  Fairfield,  8  miles  N.  of  Little  Falls,  has  about  50 
dwellings,  3  churches,  the  Fairfield  Academy,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
state,  and  the  Medical  College  of  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the 
Western  District.  Newport  village,  about  10  miles  N.  of  Herkimer, 
is  a  flourishing  place,  having  upwards  of  60  dwellings. 

About  2  miles  eastward  of  Little  Falls  is  the  house  of  Gen.  Herki¬ 
mer,  where  he  died  after  the  battle  of  Oriskany  :  he  was  buried  a  few 
rods  from  his  house,  in  a  family  burying-ground,  without  a  monument 
to  tell  where  he  lies. 

The  battle  of  Oriskany  was  fought  on  the  6th  of  Aug.,  1777  ;  and 
Gen.  Herkimer  did  not  long  survive  his  wound.  The  following  ac¬ 
count  of  his  last  moments,  and  his  character,  is  taken  from  Col. 
Stone’s  interesting  account  in  his  Life  of  Brant,  vol.  I. 

“  He  was  conveyed  to  his  own  house  near  the  Mohawk  river,  a  few  miles  below  the 
Little  Falls  ;  where  his  leg,  which  had  been  shattered  5  or  6  inches  below  the  knee,  was 
amputated  about  ten  days  after  the  battle,  by  a  young  French  surgeon  in  the  army  of  Gen. 
Arnold,  and  contrary  to  the  advice  of  the  general’s  own  medical  adviser,  the  late  Dr.  Pe¬ 
trie.  But  the  operation  was  unskilfully  performed,  and  it  was  found  impossible  by  his 
attendants  to  stanch  the  blood.  Col.  Willet  called  to  see  the  general  soon  after  the  opera¬ 
tion.  He  was  sitting  up  in  his  bed,  with  a  pipe  in  his  mouth,  spooking,  and  talking  in  ex¬ 
cellent  spirits.  He  died  the  night  following  that  visit.  His  friend,  Col.  John  Roff,  was 
present  at  the  amputation,  and  affirmed  that  he  bore  the  operation  with  uncommon  fortitude. 
He  was  likewise  with  him  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  blood  continuing  to  flow — there 
being  no  physician  in  immediate  attendance — and  being  himself  satisfied  that  the  time  of 
his  departure  was  nigh,  the  veteran  directed  the  Holy  Bible  to  be  brought  to  him.  He  then 
opened  it  and  read,  in  the  presence  of  those  who  surrounded  his  bed,  with  all  the  composure 


116 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


which  it  was  possible  for  any  man  to  exhibit,  the  38th  psalm — applying  it  to  his  own  situa¬ 
tion.  He  soon  afterward  expired  ;  and  it  may  well  be  questioned  whether  the  annals  of 
man  furnish  a  more  striking  example,  of  Christian  heroism — calm,  deliberate,  and  firm  in 
the  hour  of  death — than  is  presented  in  this  remarkable  instance.  Of  the  early  history  of 
Gen.  Herkimer,  but  little  is  known.  It  has  been  already  stated  that  his  family  was  one  of 
the  first  of  the  Germans  who  planted  themselves  in  the  Mohawk  valley.  And  the  massive 
stone  mansion,  yet  standing  at  German  Flatts,  bespeaks  its  early  opulence.  He  was  an 
uneducated  man — with,  if  possible,  less  skill  in  letters,  even  than  Gen.  Putnam,  which  is 
saying  much.  But  he  was,  nevertheless,  a  man  of  strong  and  vigorous  understanding — 
destitute  of  some  of  the  essential  requisites  of  generalship,  but  of  the  most  cool  and  dauntless 
courage.  These  traits  were  all  strikingly  disclosed  in  the  brief  and  bloody  expedition  to 
Oriskany.  But  he  must  have  been  well  acquainted  with  that  most  important  of  all  books — 
The  Bible.  Nor  could  the  most  learned  biblical  scholar,  lay  or  clerical,  have  selected  a 
portion  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  more  exactly  appropriate  to  the  situation  of  the  dying  sol¬ 
dier,  than  that  to  which  he  himself  spontaneously  turned.  If  Socrates  died  like  a  philoso¬ 
pher,  and  Rousseau  like  an  unbelieving  sentimentalist,  Gen.  Herkimer  died  like  a  Chris¬ 
tian  Hero.  Congress  passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  governor  and  council  of  New 
York  to  erect  a  monument,  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States,  to  the  memory  of  this 
brave  man,  of  the  value  of  five  hundred  dollars. 

“  Sixty  years  have  since  rolled  away,  and  the  journal  of  Congress  is  the  only  monument, 
and  the  resolution  itself  the  only  inscription,  which  as  yet  testify  the  gratitude  of  the  re¬ 
public  to  General  Nicholas  Herkimer.” 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


Jefferson  county,  taken  from  Oneida  in  1805,  is  situated  at  the 
E.  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  on  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  comprising 
Chaumont  bay,  and  most  of  the  islets  called  the  “  Thousand  Isles,” 
and  is  a  territory  having  as  many  natural  advantages  as  any  portion  of 
the  interior  of  the  state.  It  is  centrally  distant  NW.  from  New  York 
305,  and  from  Albany  160  miles.  Length  N.  and  S.  48  miles  ;  great¬ 
est  breadth  E.  and  W.  36.  This  county  in  its  surface  is  either  quite 
level  or  agreeably  diversified,  waving  in  gentle  undulations.  Gener¬ 
ally,  the  soil  is  of  a  sandy  loam  of  a  superior  quality,  with  some  gravel 
and  clay,  and  yields  abundant  crops.  The  natural  growth  of  timber  is 
luxuriant.  Originally  it  was  covered  with  trees  of  an  enormous  height. 
The  many  and  very  rapid  streams  of  this  county  furnish  an  abundance 
of  hydraulic  power.  The  cattle  sent  to  market  from  this  county  ex¬ 
ceed  4,000  head  per  annum.  Its  horses  are  equal  to  any  in  the  state, 
and  their  sale  is  a  source  of  much  revenue.  The  raising  of  sheep  is  a 
growing  business.  The  roads  in  the  county  are  numerous  and  good  ; 
among  whjch  may  be  noticed  a  turnpike  from  Brownville  to  Cape  Vin¬ 
cent,  21  miles,  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Ogdensburg  turnpikes,  and  the 
great  military  road  between  Sacketts  Harbor  and  Plattsburg,  on  Lake 
Champlain.  About  one  half  of  the  exports  descend  to  Montreal.  It 
is  divided  into  19  towns,  viz.  : 


Adams, 

Alexandria, 

Antwerp, 

Brownville, 

Cfiampioq, 


Clayton, 
Ellisburgh, 
Henderson, 
Hounsfield, 
Lp  Ray, 


Lorraine, 

Lyme, 

Orleans, 

Pamelia, 

Philadelphia, 


Rodman, 

Rutland, 

Watertown, 

Wilna. 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


117 


The  village  of  Watertown,  the  county  seat,  is  situated  on  the  S.  side 
of  Black  river,  176  miles  from  Albany,  81  from  Utica.  It  is  connected 
with  the  villages  of  Williamstown  and  Juhelville  by  bridges  ;  number¬ 
ing  altogether  about  700  houses,  and  4,000  inhabitants.  There  are  7 
churches,  3  banks,  a  state  arsenal,  and  the  Black  River  Literary  and 
Religious  Institute.  The  water  power  at  this  place  is  very  great,  and 
is  improved  by  mills  and  factories  of  various  kinds. 

In  March,  1800,  this  town  was  first  settled  by  Henry  Coffin,  who 
originally  came  from  New  Hampshire,  and  built  his  log  cabin  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill  about  3  rods  easterly  from  the  front  door  of  the 
American  Hotel.  Soon  after,  he  was  joined  by  Zechariah  Butterfield, 
who  built  his  cabin  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  Davenport’s  tav¬ 
ern.  Both  of  these  individuals  brought  with  them  their  families. 
The  unevenness  and  apparent  unproductiveness  of  the  soil  were  more 
than  counterbalanced,  in  the  discerning  minds  of  these  pioneers,  by  the 
immense  hydraulic  power  appropriable,  from  the  numerous  falls  and 
rapids  of  Black  river  at  this  point,  which  in  the  space  of  about  a  mile 
amount  to  nearly  1 00  feet  descent.  In  this,  as  well  as  the  richness 
and  fertility  of  the  adjacent  country,  they  wisely  believed  that  they 
discovered  the  elements  of  future  prosperity  and  greatness. 

Hart  and  Isaiah  Massay,  who  came  from  Windsor,  Vermont,  joined 
them  in  the  succeeding  year.  In  1802,  the  first  tavern  was  opened  by 
Isaiah  Massay,  and  the  first  saw-mill  erected  on  the  present  site  of  W. 
Pattridge’s  woollen  factory.  The  high  reputation  of  the  Black  river 
country  now  began  to  be  sounded  abroad,  and  the  number  of  settlers 
rapidly  augmented.  Among  the  other  earliest  emigrants  were  Aaron 
Bacon,  Jonathan  Cowan,  two  brothers  by  the  name  of  Thornton, 
Jesse  Doolittle,  M.  Canfield,  Aaron  Keyes,  D.  Huntington,  William 
Smith,  John  Paddock,  Chauncey  Calhoun,  Philo  Johnson,  and  John 
Hathway. 

Adams,  14  miles  S.  from  Watertown,  149  from  Albany,  contains 
upwards  of  100  dwellings,  2  churches,  a  seminary  for  young  ladies. 
It  has  a  number  of  mills  and  manufacturing  establishments.  Brown- 
ville,  on  the  right  bank  of  Black  river,  3  miles  from  its  mouth,  4  miles 
below  Watertown,  has  upwards  of  100  dwellings,  3  churches,  and  is  a 
place  of  considerable  manufacturing  business. 

Sacketts  Harbor  was  incorporated  in  1821,  on  the  SW.  side  of  Black 
river  bay,  on  Lake  Ontario.  The  settlement  of  this  town  was  com¬ 
menced  in  1802,  by  Augustus  Sackett,  Esq.,  agent  for  the  owners, 
who  came  from  New  York  and  settled  at  the  harbor  which  derives 
its  name  from  him.  The  first  house  built  here,  erected  by  Judge 
Sackett,  is  now  standing  in  Baird-street,  and  is  occupied  by  Mrs. 
McGwin.  The  progress  of  the  settlement  was  slow  until  1812.  After 
the  declaration  of  war  this  spot  became  an  important  military  and  naval 
position.  The  harbor  is  the  best  on  the  lake  for  shipbuilding  and  as  a 
naval  depot.  The  above  view  was  taken  from  the  military  hospital.  The 
small  building  on  the  point  of  the  harbor,  on  the  right  of  the  engraving, 
is  the  old  blockhouse  which  stands  near,  or  on  the  site  of  old  Fort 
Tompkins.  The  large  building  on  a  rocky  island  a  few  yards  from  the 


1  IS 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


Northern  view  of  Sacketts  Harbor,  N.  Y. 


shore,  is  a  ship-house,  which  covers  the  frame  of  the  “New  Orleans,” 
a  110  gun  ship  commenced  during  the  late  war.  The  steeple  on  the 
left  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  There  is  also  an  Episcopal  and 
a  Methodist  church  in  the  place,  and  about  1,800  inhabitants.  This  is 
an  important  military  station,  185  miles  from  Albany,  and  35  from 
Kingston,  U.  Canada.  The  United  States  have  erected  at  this  place  3 
extensive  stone  barracks,  an  hospital,  &c.  A  considerable  trade  is  car¬ 
ried  on  here  by  the  lake  and  St.  Lawrence  river,  and  by  the  Oswego, 
Erie,  and  Welland  canals.  After  the  late  war,  business  very  much 
decreased,  but  it  has  since  grown  with  the  general  improvement  of  the 
country. 

The  troops  destined  for  the  attack  upon  York,  (U.  C.,)  embarked 
from  this  place.  The  following  account  of  the  expedition  is  from 
Thompson’s  History  of  the  late  war  : 

On  the  22d  and  23d  of  April,  1813,  agreeably  to  previous  arrangement  with  Commo¬ 
dore  Chauncey,  who  had  the  command  of  the  fleet  on  Lake  Ontario,  General  Dearborn 
and  his  suite,  with  a  force  of  seventeen  hundred  men,  embarked  on  this  expedition,  but  the 
prevalence  of  a  violent  storm  prevented  the  sailing  of  the  squadron  until  the  25th.  On 
that  day  it  moved  into  Lake  Ontario,  and  having  a  favorable  wind,  arrived  safely  at  7 
o’clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  about  one  mile  to  the  westward  of  the  ruins  of  Fort 
Toronto,  and  two  and  a  half  from  the  town  of  York,  The  execution  of  that  part  of  the 
plan  which  applied  immediately  to  the  attack  upon  York,  was  confided  to  Col.  Pike,  of 
the  15th  regiment,  who  had  then  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  the 
position  which  had  been  fixed  upon  for  landing  the  troops,  was  the  site  of  the  old  fort. 
The  approach  of  the  fleet  being  discovered  from  the  enemy’s  garrison,  General  Sheaffe, 
the  British  commandant,  hastily  collected  his  whole  force,  consisting  of  upwards  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  regulars  and  militia,  and  one  hundred  Indians,  and  disposed  them  in  the 
best  manner  to  resist  the  landing  of  the  American  force.  A  body  of  British  grenadiers 
were  paraded  on  the  shore,  and  the  Glengary  fencibles,  a  corps  which  had  been  disciplined 
with  uncommon  pains  since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  were  stationed  at  another 
point.  Bodies  of  Indians  were  observed  in  groups  in  different  directions,  in  and  about  the 
woods  below  the  site  of  the  fort,  and  numbers  of  horsemen  were  stationed  in  the  clear 
ground  surrounding  it.  These  were  seen  moving  into  the  town,  where  strong  field  works 
had  been  thrown  up  to  oppose  the  assailants.  The  Indians  were  taking  post  at  stations, 
which  were  pointed  out  to  them  by  the  British  officers  with  great  skill,  from  which  they 
could  annoy  the.  Americans  at  the  point  where  the  water  and  the  weather  would  compel 
them  to  land.  Thus  posted,  they  were  to  act  as  tirailleurs.  The  regulars  were  discov¬ 
ered  to  be  moving  out  of  their  works  in  open  columns  of  platoons,  and  marching  along  the 
bank  in  that  order  into  the  woods. 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


119 


“  At  8  o’clock  the  debarkation  commenced  ;  at  ten  it  was  completed.  Major  Forsythe 
and  his  riflemen  in  several  large  batteaux,  were  in  the  advance.  They  pulled  vigorously 
for  the  designated  ground  at  the  site,  but  were  forced  by  a  strong  easterly  wind  a  consid¬ 
erable  distance  above.  The  enemy  being  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water,  and  completely 
masked  by  the  thickness  of  a  copse,  commenced  a  galling  fire  of  musketry  and  rifle.  To 
have  fallen  further  from  the  clear  ground  at  which  he  was  first  ordered  to  land,  would  have 
subjected,  not  only  his  own  corps,  but  the  whole  body  of  the  troops,  to  great  disadvantages  ; 
and  by  landing  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  town,  the  object  of  the  expedition  might  be 
frustrated.  Major  Forsythe  therefore  determined  upon  making  that  part  of  the  shore  on 
which  the  enemy’s  principal  strength  was  stationed,  and  desired  his  men  to  rest  a  moment 
on  their  oars,  until  his  riflemen  should  return  the  shot.  General  Pike  was  at  this  moment 
hastening  the  debarkation  of  the  infantry,  when,  as  he  was  standing  on  the  ship’s  deck,  he 
observed  the  pause  of  the  boats  in  advance,  and  springing  into  that  which  had  been  reserved 
for  himself  and  his  staff,  he  called  to  them  to  jump  into  the  boat  with  him,  ordered  Major 
King  of  the  15th  (the  same  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  carrying  the  enemy’s  batteries 
opposite  Black  Rock,)  to  follow  him  instantly  with  three  companies  of  that  regiment,  and 
pushed  for  the  Canadian  shore.  Before  he  reached  it,  Forsythe  had  landed  and  was  already 
engaged  with  the  principal  part  of  the  British  and  Indian  force,  under  the  immediate  com¬ 
mand  of  General  Sheaffe.  He  contended  with  them  nearly  half  an  hour.  The  infantry 
under  Major  King,  the  light  artillery  under  Major  Eustis,  the  volunteer  corps  commanded 
by  Colonel  M’Clure,  and  about  thirty  men,  who  had  been  selected  from  the  15th  at  Platts- 
burg,  trained  to  the  rifle,  and  designed  to  act  as  a  small  corps  of  observation,  under  Lieu¬ 
tenant  Riddle,  then  landed  in  rapid  succession,  and  formed  in  platoons.  General  Pike  took 
command  of  the  first,  and  ordering  the  whole  body  to  prepare  for  a  charge,  led  them  on  to 
the  summit  of  the  bank,  from  which  the  British  grenadiers  were  pouring  down  a  volley  ot 
musketry  and  rifle  shot.  The  advance  of  the  American  infantry  was  not  to  be  withstood, 
and  the  grenadiers  yielded  their  position  and  retired  in  disorder.  The  signal  of  victory  was 
at  the  same  instant  heard  from  Forsythe’s  bugles,  and  the  sound  had  no  sooner  penetrated 
the  ears  of  the  Indians,  than  they  gave  a  customary  yell  and  fled  in  every  direction.  The 
Glengary  corps  then  skirmished  with  Forsythe’s,  whilst  a  fresh  body  of  Grenadiers,  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  the  8th  or  King’s  regiment,  made  a  formidable  charge  upon  the  Amer¬ 
ican  column,  and  partially  compelled  it  to  retire.  But  the  officers  instantly  rallied  the 
troops,  who  returned  to  the  ground,  and  impetuously  charged  upon,  and  routed  the  grena¬ 
diers.  A  reinforcement  of  the  remainder  of  the  15th  then  arrived,  with  Captain  Steel’s 
platoon  and  the  standards  of  the  regiment,  and  the  Americans  remained  undisputed  mas¬ 
ters  of  the  ground.  A  fresh  front,  however,  was  presented  by  the  British  at  a  distance, 
which  gave  way  and  retired  to  the  garrison,  as  soon  as  the  American  troops  were  again 
formed  by  Major  King,  for  the  charge.  The  whole  body  of  the  troops  being  now  landed, 
orders  were  given  by  General  Pike  to  form  in  platoons,  and  to  march  in  that  order  to  the 
enemy’s  works.  The  first  line  was  composed  of  Forsythe’s  riflemen,  with  front  and  flank 
guards  ;  the  regiments  of  the  first  brigade,  with  their  pieces  ;  and  three  platoons  of  reserve, 
under  the  orders  of  Major  Swan ;  Major  Eustis  and  his  train  of  artillery  were  formed  in 
the  rear  of  this  reserve,  to  act  where  circumstances  might  require.  The  second  line  was 
composed  of  the  21st  regiment,  in  six  platoons,  flanked  by  Col.  M’Clure’s  volunteers,  di¬ 
vided  equally  as  light  troops,  and  all  under  command  of  Colonel  Ripley.  Thus  formed,  an 
injunction  was  given  to  each  officer,  to  suffer  no  man  to  load  ;  when  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  enemy,  an  entire  reliance  would  be  placed  upon  the  bayonet ;  and  the  column  moved 
on,  with  as  much  velocity  as  the  streams  and  ravines  which  intersected  the  road  along  the 
lake  would  permit.  One  field-piece,  and  a  howitzer,  were  with  difficulty  passed  over  one 
of  these,  the  bridges  of  which  had  been  destroyed,  and  placed  at  the  head  of  the  column, 
in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Fanning,  of  the  3d  artillery.  As  the  column  emerged  from  the 
woods,  and  came  immediately  in  front  of  the  enemy’s  first  battery,  two  or  three  24  pound¬ 
ers  were  opened  upon  it,  but  without  any  kind  of  effect.  The  column  moved  on,  and  the 
enemy  retreated  to  his  second  battery.  The  guns  of  the  first  were  immediately  taken,  and 
Lieutenant  Riddle,  having  at  this  moment  come  up  with  his  corps  to  deliver  the  prisoners 
which  he  had  made  in  the  woods,  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  take  possession  of  the  second 
battery,  about  one  hundred  yards  ahead,  the  guns  of  which,  Lieutenant  Fraser,  aid-de-camp 
to  the  general,  reported  to  have  been  spiked  by  the  enemy,  whom  he  discovered  retreating 
to  the  garrison.  General  Pike  then  led  the  column  up  to  the  second  battery,  where  he 
halted  to  receive  the  captured  ammunition,  and  to  learn  the  strength  of  the  garrison.  But 
as  every  appearance  indicated  the  evacuation  of  the  barracks,  he  suspected  the  enemy  of 
an  intention  to  draw  him  within  range  of  the  shot,  and  then  suddenly  to  show  himself  in 
great  force.  Lieutenant  Riddle  was  sent  forward  with  his  corps  of  observation,  to  discover 
if  there  were  any,  and  what  number  of  troops,  within  the  garrison.  The  barracks  were 


120 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


three  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  second  battery,  and  whilst  this  corps  was  engaged  in 
reconnoitering,  General  Pike,  after  removing  a  wounded  prisoner  from  a  dangerous  situa- 
ation,  had  seated  himself  upon  a  stump,  and  commenced  an  examination  of  a  British  ser. 
geant,  who  had  been  taken  in  the  woods.  Riddle  having  discovered  that  the  enemy  had 
abandoned  the  garrison,  was  about  to  return  with  this  information,  when  the  magazine, 
which  was  situated  outside  the  barrack  yard,  blew  up,  with  a  tremendous  and  awful  explo¬ 
sion,  passed  over  Riddle  and  his  party,  without  injuring  one  of  his  men,  and  killed  and 
wounded  General  Pike,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  column.  The  severity  of  Gen¬ 
eral  Pike’s  wounds  disabled  him  from  further  service,  and  the  command  of  the  troops  de¬ 
volved  upon  Colonel  Pearce  of  the  16th  regiment,  who  sent  a  demand  to  the  town  of  York 
for  an  immediate  surrender.  The  plan  of  the  contemplated  operations  was  known  only  to 
General  Pike,  and,  as  General  Dearborn  had  not  yet  landed,  the  future  movements  of  the 
troops  would  depend  upon  the  will  of  their  new  commander.  He  ordered  them  immedi¬ 
ately  to  form  the  column,  and  to  march  forward  and  occupy  the  barracks,  which  Major 
Forsythe,  who  had  been  scouring  the  adjoining  wood,  had  already  entered.  Meanwhile 
the  British  regulars  were  retreating  across  the  Don,  and  destroying  the  bridges  in  their  rear. 
After  the  explosion,  which  killed  about  fifty  of  the  enemy  who  had  not  retired  in  time  from 
the  garrison,  Lieutenant  Riddle  with  his  party,  then  reinforced  by  thirty  regulars  under 
Lieutenant  Horrel  of  the  16th,  pursued  the  enemy’s  route,  and  annoyed  his  retreating  guard 
from  the  wood.  This  was  the  only  pursuit  which  was  made.  -Had  a  more  vigorous  push 
followed  the  abandonment  of  the  enemy’s  garrison,  his  whole  regular  force  must  have  been 
captured,  and  the  accession  of  military  stores  would  have  been  extensively  great.  The 
majority  of  the  officers  were  well  aware  of  this,  and  as  it  was  known  that  the  stores  were 
deposited  at  York,  they  urged  the  necessity  of  the  immediate  approach  of  the  whole  column, 
to  prevent  their  removal.  Colonel  Pearce  then  marched  towards  the  town,  which  was  dis¬ 
tant  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  About  half  way  between  York  and  the  garrison,  the  column 
was  intercepted  by  several  officers  of  the  Canadian  militia,  who  had  come  out  with  terms  of 
capitulation.  Whilst  these  were  discussing,  the  enemy  was  engaged  in  destroying  the  mil¬ 
itary  storehouse,  and  a  large  vessel  of  war  then  on  the  stocks,  which  in  three  days  might 
have  been  launched,  and  added  to  the  American  squadron  on  Ontario.  Forsythe,  who  was 
on  the  left  in  advance,  being  aware  of  this,  despatched  Lieutenant  Riddle  to  inform  Col¬ 
onel  Pearce.  Colonel  Ripley  was  at  the  same  time  urging  a  rapid  march,  and  the  troops 
again  proceeded.  Colonel  Pearce  enjoined  the  observance  of  General  Pike’s  orders,  that 
the  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  York  should  be  held  sacred,  and  that  any  soldier  who 
should  so  far  neglect  the  honor  of  his  profession,  as  to  be  guilty  of  plundering,  should,  on 
conviction,  be  punished  with  death.  At  4  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  Americans  were  in 
possession  of  the  town,  and  terms  of  capitulation  were  agreed  upon,  by  which,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  severe  loss  which  the  army  and  the  nation  had  sustained  by  the  death  of  the 
general ;  the  unwarrantable  manner  in  which  that  loss  was  occasioned ;  and  the  subtlety 
with  which  the  militia  colonels  offered  to  capitulate  at  a  distance  from  the  town,  so  that  the 
column  might  be  detained  until  General  Sheaffe  should  escape,  and  the  destruction  of  the 
public  property  be  completed,  although  one  of  its  articles  stipulated  for  its  delivery  into  the 
hands  of  the  Americans ;  the  militia  and  inhabitants  were  freed  from  all  hardship,  and  not 
only  their  persons  and  property,  but  their  legislative  hall  and  other  public  buildings  were 
protected.  The  terms  of  the  capitulation  were,  ‘  that  the  troops,  regular  and  militia,  and 
the  naval  officers  and  seamen,  should  be  surrendered  prisoners  of  war.  That  all  public 
stores,  naval  and  military ,  should  be  immediately  given  up  to  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  that  all  private  property  should  be  guaranteed 
to  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  York.  That  all  papers  belonging  to  the  civil  officers  should 
be  retained  by  them,  and  that  such  surgeons  as  might  be  procured  to  attend  the  wounded 
of  the  British  regulars  and  Canadian  militia,  should  not  be  considered  prisoners  of  war.’ 
Under  this  capitulation,  one  lieutenant-colonel,  one  major,  thirteen  captains,  nine  lieuten¬ 
ants,  eleven  ensigns,  one  deputy  adjutant-general,  and  four  naval  officers,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty-one  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  were  surrendered.  The  American 
infantry  were  then  ordered  to  return  to,  and  quarter  in  the  barracks,  while  the  riflemen 
were  stationed  in  the  town. 

“  When  General  Pike’s  wound  was  discovered  to  be  mortal,  he  was 
removed  from  the  field,  and  carried  to  the  shipping  with  his  wounded 
aids.  As  they  conveyed  him  to  the  water’s  edge,  a  sudden  exclama¬ 
tion  was  heard  from  the  troops,  which  informed  him  of  the  American 
having  supplanted  the  British  standard  in  the  garrison.  He  expressed 
his  satisfaction  by  a  feeble  sigh,  and  after  being  transferred  from  the 


RED  JACKET, 

The  Seneca  Chief,  from  an  original  drawing. 


DEATH  OF  GEN.  PIKE, 

At  York,  (U.  C.)  on  the  27th  of  April,  1813. 


t 


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S&. 


. 


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- 

;  . 


; 

!  ■  . : 


; 


. 


'  . 


■ 


i 


JEFFERSON  COUNl'Y. 


121 


Pert  schooner  to  the  commodore’s  ship,  he  made  a  sign  for  the  British 
flag,  which  had  then  been  brought  to  him,  to  be  placed  under  his 
head,  and  expired  without  a  groan.  Thus  perished  in  the  arms  of 
victory,  by  the  ungenerous  stratagem  of  a  vanquished  foe,  a  soldier 
of  tried  valor  and  invincible  courage, — a  general  of  illustrious  virtues 
and  distinguished  talents. 

“  When  the  British  general  saw  the  American  column  advancing 
from  the  woods,  he  hastily  drew  up  the  articles  of  capitulation,  and 
directed  them  to  be  delivered  to  a  colonel  of  the  York  militia.  This 
colonel  was  instructed  to  negotiate  the  terms,  after  the  regulars 
should  have  retreated.  General  Sheaffe,  therefore,  considered  the 
garrison  to  be  as  much  surrendered,  as  if  the  articles  had  been  act¬ 
uary  agreed  upon  and  signed.  Yet  he  treacherously  ordered  a  train 
to  be  laid,  which  was  so  calculated,  that  the  explosion  of  the  maga¬ 
zine  should  be  caused  at  the  time  when  the  Americans  would  arrive 
at  the  barracks.  Had  not  General  Pike  halted  the  troops  at  the  en¬ 
emy’s  second  battery,  the  British  plan  would  have  attained  its  con¬ 
summation,  and  the  destruction  of  the  whole  column  would  have  been 
the  natural  consequence.  The  train  had  been  skilfully  laid,  and  the 
combustibles  arranged  in  a  manner  to  produce  the  most  dreadful 
effect.  Five  hundred  barrels  of  powder,  several  cart  loads  of  stone, 
and  an  immense  quantity  of  iron,  shells,  and  shot,  were  contained  in 
the  magazine.  The  calamity  which  followed  the  explosion,  caused 
no  discomfiture  among  the  troops.'  A  number  of  their  officers  of 
high  rank,  and  of  equal  worth,  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and 
they  became  actuated  by  a  desire  to  revenge  their  fall.  *  Push  on , 
my  brave  fellows,  and  avenge  your  general ,’  were  the  last  words  of 
their  expiring  commander.  They  instantly  gave  three  cheers,  formed 
the  column,  and  marched  on  rapidly.  Had  they  been  led  directly  to 
York,  the  issue  of  the  expedition  would  have  been  fruitful  with  ad¬ 
vantages.  As  it  was,  however,  the  enemy’s  means  were  crippled,  his 
resources  cut  off,  and  the  military  stores  of  the  captors  extensively 
multiplied.  Most  of  the  guns,  munitions  of  war,  and  provisions,  ne¬ 
cessary  to  carry  on  the  campaign  by  the  enemy,  had  been  deposited 
at  York,  and  notwithstanding  the  firing  of  the  principal  storehouse, 
an  immense  quantity  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  The 
baggage  and  private  papers  of  General  Sheaffe  were  left  at  York,  in 
the  precipitation  of  his  flight,  and  proved  to  be  a  valuable  acquisition 
to  the  American  commander.  These  and  the  public  stores  were  the 
only  articles  of  capture.  The  conduct  of  the  troops  needed  no  re¬ 
straint.  Though  their  indignation  was  highly  excited,  by  the  circum¬ 
stance  of  a  scalp  having  been  found  suspended  near  the  speaker’s 
chair,  in  the  legislative  chamber,  neither  the  ornaments  of  the  cham¬ 
ber,  the  building  itself,  nor  the  public  library,  was  molested.  A  large 
quantity  of  flour,  deposited  in  the  public  stores,  was  distributed  among 
the  inhabitants,  on  condition  that  it  should  be  used  for  their  own  con¬ 
sumption  ;  and  those  whose  circumstances  were  impoverished,  were 
supplied  with  many  other  articles  of  the  captured  provisions.  The 
balance  was  taken  on  board  the  fleet,  with  the  naval  stores,  or  de¬ 
stroyed  upon  the  shore.  j  0 


122 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


“  Immediately  after  the  fall  of  General  Pike,  the  commander-in-chief  landed  yvith  his 
staff,  but  he  did  not  reach  the  troops  until  they  had  entered  York.  He  there  made  arrange¬ 
ments  to  expedite  their  departure  for  the  other  objects  of  the  expedition,  and  they  were 
soon  after  re-embarked. 

“  The  co-operation  of  the  squadron  was  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the  attack  upon  the 
enemy’s  garrison.  As  soon  as  the  debarkation  was  completed,  Commodore  Chauncey  di¬ 
rected  the  schooners  to  take  a  position  near  the  forts,  in  order  that  the  attack  of  the  army 
and  navy  might,  if  possible,  be  simultaneous.  The  larger  vessels  could  not  be  brought  up, 
and  in  consequence  of  the  wind,  the  schooners  were  obliged  to  beat  up  to  their  intended 
position.  This  they  did,  under  a  very  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy’s  batteries,  and  having 
taken  their  station  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  principal  fort,  opened  a  galling  fire,  and 
contributed  very  much  to  its  destruction.  The  loss  on  board  the  squadron,  was  three  killed 
and  eleven  wounded.  Among  the  killed  were  midshipmen  Thompson  and  Hatfield,  the 
latter  of  whom,  in  his  dying  moments,  had  no  other  care  than  to  know  if  he  had  performed 
his  duty  to  his  country. 

“  In  the  action  the  loss  of  the  American  army  was  trifling ;  but  in  consequence  of  the 
explosion,  it  was  much  greater  than  the  enemy’s  loss  in  lulled  and  wounded.  Fourteen 
were  killed  and  thirty-two  wounded  in  battle,  and  thirty-eight  were  killed  and  two  hundred 
and  twenty-two  wounded  by  the  explosion,  so  that  the  total  American  loss  amounted  to 
320  men.  Among  those  who  fell  by  the  explosion,  besides  General  Pike,  were  seven  cap¬ 
tains,  seven  subalterns,  one  aid-de-camp,  one  acting  aid,  and  one  volunteer  aid.  The  en¬ 
emy’s  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  two  hundred,  and  in  prisoners  to  five  hun¬ 
dred  and  fifty.  His  wounded  were  left  in  the  houses  on  the  road  leading  to  and  in  the 
neighborhood  of  York,  and  were  attended  to  by  the  American  army  and  navy  surgeons. 
The  prisoners  were  all  paroled,  and  the  troops  withdrawn  from  York  immediately  after  its 
capture.” 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  attack  on  Sackett’s  Harbor 
by  the  British,  May,  1813  : 

“  Whilst  the  troops  were  preparing  to  embark  at  York,  for  the  expedition  against  Fort 
George,  the  British  at  Kingston,  having  gained  intelligence  of  their  absence  from  Sackett’s 
Harbor,  of  the  batteries  at  that  place  having  been  principally  dismantled,  and  of  the  small¬ 
ness  of  the  force  which  had  been  left  for  its  protection,  hastily  collected  all  their  disposables, 
and  embarked  on  board  their  fleet,  under  the  command  of  Sir  George  Prevost.  The  fleet 
was  commanded  by  Sir  James  Yeo.  On  the  night  of  the  27th  day  of  May,  five  hours  after 
the  capture  of  Fort  George,  the  British  appeared  off  the  entrance  to  the  harbor.  The 
American  force  consisted  of  two  hundred  invalids,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  dragoons, 
then  newly  arrived  from  a  long  and  fatiguing  march.  Two  small  vessels,  under  Lieutenant 
Chauncey,  were  stationed  at  its  mouth,  and  gave  instant  signals  of  alarm,  at  the  approach 
of  the  British  squadron.  Expresses  were  immediately  forwarded  to  General  Brown,  then 
at  his  seat,  eight  miles  from  the  harbor,  and  he  immediately  repaired  thither,  to  take  the 
command. 

“  The  tour  of  duty  of  the  militia  of  his  brigade  had  expired  many  weeks  before,  but  he 
had  been  requested  by  General  Dearborn  to  take  the  command  of  the  harbor,  at  any  time 
when  the  enemy  should  approach  it,  and  to  provide  for  its  defence.  Immediately  on  his 
arrival,  dispositions  were  made  to  that  effect.  The  movements  of  the  enemy  indicated  his 
intention  to  land  on  the  peninsula,  called  Horse  Island.  General  Brown,  therefore,  deter¬ 
mined  on  resisting  him  at  the  water’s  edge,  with  the  Albany  volunteers,  under  Colonel 
Mills,  and  such  militia  as  could  be  instantly  collected.  Alarm  guns  were  therefore  fired, 
and  expresses  sent  out  for  that  purpose.  Lieutenant-colonel  Backus,  of  the  first  regiment 
of  United  States  dragoons,  who  commanded  at  Sackett’s  Harbor  in  the  absence  of  the 
officers  who  had  proceeded  to  Fort  George,  was  to  form  a  second  line  with  the  regulars. 
The  regular  artillerists  were  stationed  in  Fort  Tompkins,  and  the  defence  of  Navy  Point 
was  committed  to  Lieutenant  Chauncey. 

“  On  the  28th,  the  Wolfe,  the  Royal  George,  the  Prince  Regent,  the  Earl  of  Moira,  and 
one  brig,  two  schooners,  and  two  gun-boats,  with  thirty-three  flat-bottomed  boats  and 
barges,  containing  in  all  twelve  hundred  troops,  appeared  in  the  offing,  at  five  miles  dis¬ 
tance.  They  were  standing  their  course  for  the  harbor,  when,  having  discovered  a  fleet  of 
American  barges,  coming  round  Stony  Point  with  troops  from  Oswego,  the  whole  of  their 
boats  were  immediately  despatched  to  cut  them  off.  They  succeeded  in  taking  twelve  of 
them,  after  they  had  been  run  on  shore  and  abandoned  by  their  crews,  who  arrived  at  the 
harbor  in  the  night.  The  remainder,  seven  in  number,  escaped  from  their  pursuers,  and 
got  safely  in.  The  British  commanders,  being  then  under  an  impression  that  other  barges 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


123 


would  be  sailing  from  Oswego,  stood  into  South  bay,  and  despatched  their  armed  boats  to 
waylay  them.  In  this  they  were  disappointed ;  and  during  the  delay  which  was  caused  by 
this  interruption  of  their  intended  operations,  the  militia  from  the  neighboring  counties  col¬ 
lected  at  the  harbor,  and  betrayed  great  eagerness  to  engage  in  the  contest  with  the  in¬ 
vading  enemy.  They  were  ordered  to  be  stationed  on  the  water  side,  near  the  island  on 
which  Colonel  Mills  was  posted  with  his  volunteers.  The  strength  at  that  point  was  near¬ 
ly  five  hundred  men.  But  the  whole  force,  including  the  regulars,  effectives  and  invalids, 
did  not  exceed  one  thousand.  The  plan  of  defence  had  been  conceived  with  great  skill, 
and  if  the  conduct  of  the  militia  had  proved  to  be  consistent  with  their  promises,  it  would 
have  been  executed  with  equal  ability.  Disposed  of  as  the  forces  were,  in  the  event  of 
General  Brown’s  being  driven  from  his  position  at  Horse  Island,  Colonel  Backus  was  to  ad. 
vance  with  his  reserve  of  regulars,  and  meet  the  head  of  the  enemy’s  column,  whilst  the 
general  would  rally  his  corps,  and  fall  upon  the  British  flanks.  If  resistance  to  the  at¬ 
tack  of  the  enemy  should  still  fail,  Lieutenant  Chauncey  was  to  destroy  the  stores  at  Navy 
Point,  and  to  retire  with  his  two  schooners,  and  the  prize  schooner,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester, 
which  had  been  a  few  weeks  before  captured  from  the  enemy,  to  the  south  shore  of  the 
bay,  and  east  of  Fort  Volunteer.  In  this  fort  the  regulars  and  militia  were  to  shut  them¬ 
selves  up,  and  make  a  vigorous  stand,  as  their  only  remaining  resort.  Every  tiling  being 
thus  ordered,  General  Brown  directed  his  defensive  army  to  lay  upon  their  arms,  whilst  he 
continued  personally  to  reconnoitre  the  shores  of  the  harbor,  during  the  whole  night  of  the 
28th.  At  the  only  favorable  point  of  landing,  he  had  caused  a  breast-work  to  be  thrown 
up,  and  a  battery  en  barbette  to  be  erected.  Behind  this  most  of  the  militia  were  stationed. 

“  At  the  dawn  of  the  29th,  the  enemy  was  discovered  with  his  vessels  drawn  up  in  line, 
between  Horse  Island  and  Stony  Point ;  and  in  a  few  minutes,  all  his  boats  and  barges 
approached  the  shore,  under  cover  of  his  gun-boats,  those  being  the  heaviest  of  his  vessels 
which,  in  consequence  of  the  lightness  of  the  winds,  could  be  brought  up.  The  troops 
with  which  the  boats  were  filled,  were  commanded  by  Sir  George  Prevost,  in  person. 
Commodore  Yeo  directed  the  movements  of  the  barges.  General  Brown  instantly  issued 
his  orders,  that  the  troops  should  lay  close,  and  reserve  their  fire  until  the  enemy  should 
have  approached  so  near,  that  every  shot  might  take  effect.  This  order  was  executed,  and 
the  fire  was  so  destructive,  that  the  enemy’s  advance  boats  were  obliged  to  make  a  tempo¬ 
rary  pause,  and  numbers  of  their  officers  and  men  were  seen  to  fall.  Encouraged  by  the 
desired  effect  of  the  first  fire,  the  militia  loaded  their  pieces  with  the  utmost  quickness,  and 
the  artillery  was  ordered  to  be  opened  at  the  moment  of  their  second.  But,  before  the 
second  round  had  been  completely  discharged,  the  whole  body  of  the  militia,  none  of  whom 
had  ever  seen  an  enemy  until  now,  and  who  were  entirely  unaccustomed  to  subordination, 
though  they  were  well  protected  by  the  breastwork,  rose  from  behind  it,  and  abandoning 
those  honorable  promises  of  noble  daring  which  they  had  made  but  a  little  while  before, 
they  fled  with  equal  precipitation  and  disorder.  A  strange  and  unaccountable  panic  seized 
the  whole  line  ;  and  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few,  terror  and  dismay  were  depicted  in 
every  countenance.  Colonel  Mills,  vainly  endeavoring  to  rally  his  men,  was  killed  as  he 
was  reminding  them  of  the  solemn  pledges  which  they  had  given  ;  but  the  fall  of  this  brave 
officer  served  rather  to  increase  their  confusion,  than  to  actuate  them  to  revenge  it. 

“  General  Brown  seeing  that  his  plan  was  already  frustrated,  and 
fearing  his  inability  to  execute  any  other  without  the  vigorous  co-op¬ 
eration  of  the  militia,  hastened  to  intercept  their  retreat ;  and,  finding 
one  company,  of  about  one  hundred  men,  who  had  been  rallied  by 
the  active  and  zealous  conduct  of  Capt.  M’Nitt,  of  that  corps,  he 
brought  them  up,  and  ordered  them  to  form  in  line  with  the  regulars 
and  volunteers,  who  had  continued  to  keep  their  ground. 

“  In  the  interval  which  had  thus  elapsed,  the  enemy  had  effected 
his  debarkation,  with  little  opposition ;  and  drawing  up  his  whole 
force  on  Horse  Island,  he  commenced  his  march  for  the  village ;  on 
the  road  to  which,  he  was  met  by  a  small  party  of  infantry,  under 
Major  Aspinwall,  and  a  few  dismounted  dragoons  under  Major  Laval, 
who  opposed  him  with  much  gallantry.  Two  of  the  gun-boats 
ranged  up  the  shore,  and  covered  the  field  with  grape.  This  handful 
of  troops  then  gradually  retired  in  good  order,  from  an  immense  su¬ 
periority  of  numbers,  and  occupied  the  intervals  between  the  barracks. 


124 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


“  Lieutenant-colonel  Backus,  with  his  reserve  of  regulars,  first  en 
gaged  the  enemy,  when  the  militia  company  of  Captain  M’Nitt  was 
formed  on  his  flank  ;  and  in  the  vigorous  fight  which  then  followed, 
this  company  behaved  with  as  much  gallantry  as  the  bravest  of  the 
regulars.  The  whole  force  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  however,  by 
the  superior  strength  of  the  enemy’s  column,  and  resorting  to  the 
barracks  for  what  shelter  they  could  afford,  they  posted  themselves 
in  the  unprotected  log  houses,  and  kept  up  an  incessant  and  effective 
fire.  From  these,  the  most  violent  assaults,  and  the  repeated  and 
varying  efforts  of  the  British,  were  incompetent  to  dislodge  them. 
Colonel  Gray,  the  quartermaster-general  of  the  enemy’s  forces,  ad¬ 
vanced  to  the  weakest  part  of  the  barracks,  at  the  head  of  a  column 
of  regulars,  and  after  exchanging  shots  with  an  inferior  party  of  mili¬ 
tia  and  regulars,  led  his  men  on  to  the  assault.  A  small  boy,  who 
was  a  drummer  in  Major  Aspinwall’s  corps,  seized  a  musket,  and  lev¬ 
elling  it  at  the  colonel,  immediately  brought  him  to  the  ground.  At 
that  moment  Lieutenant  Fanning,  of  the  artillery,  who  had  been  so 
severely  wounded  by  the  explosion  at  Little  York,  and  was  yet  con¬ 
sidered  to  be  unable  to  do  any  kind  of  duty,  leaned  upon  his  piece 
whilst  it  was  drawn  up,  and  having  given  it  the  proper  elevation,  dis¬ 
charged  three  rounds  of  grape  into  the  faces  of  the  enemy,  who  im¬ 
mediately  fell  back  in  disorder.  At  this  instant,  Lieutenant-colonel 
Backus  fell,  severely  wounded. 

“  Whilst  the  battle  was  raging  with  its  greatest  violence,  informa¬ 
tion  was  brought  to  Lieutenant  Chauncey,  of  the  intention  of  the 
American  forces  to  surrender.  He  therefore,  in  conformity  to  his 
previous  orders,  relating  to  such  an  event,  fired  the  navy  barracks, 
and  destroyed  all  the  property  and  public  stores,  which  had  pre¬ 
viously  belonged  to  the  harbor,  as  well  as  the  provisions  and  equip¬ 
ments  which  had  been  brought  from  York.  The  destruction  of  these 
buildings,  and  the  conflagration  which  was  thence  produced,  was 
thought  to  have  been  caused  by  the  troops  of  the  enemy,  and  although 
the  undisciplined  militia  and  volunteers,  and  the  invalid  regulars,  were 
suspicious  of  being  placed  between  the  fire  of  two  divisions  of  the 
enemy,  they  continued  to  fight  on,  regardless  of  their  inferiority,  or 
the  consequences  of  their  capture. 

“  General  Brown  was  all  this  time  actively  superintending  the  operations  of  his  little 
army.  He  now  determined  on  making  a  diversion  in  its  favor,  which,  if  it  should  be  suc¬ 
cessful,  would  be  the  only  means  of  saving  the  place,  or  of  relieving  his  exhausted  troops. 
Having  learned  that  the  militia,  who  had  fled  from  their  stations  in  the  early  part  of  the  en¬ 
gagement,  had  not  yet  entirely  dispersed,  and  that  they  were  still  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  scene  of  action,  he  hastened  to  exhort  them  to  imitate  the  conduct  of  their  brave 
brethren  in  arms.  He  reproached  them  with  shameful  timidity,  and  ordered  them  instantly 
to  form  and  follow  him,  and  threatened  with  instant  death  the  first  man  who  should  refuse. 
His  order  was  obeyed  with  alacrity.  He  then  attempted  a  stratagem,  by  which  to  deceive 
the  enemy,  with  regard  to  the  forces  against  which  he  was  contending.  Silently  passing 
through  a  distant  wood,  which  led  towards  the  place  at  which  the  enemy  had  landed,  Gen . 
eral  Brown  persuaded  the  British  general  of  his  intention  to  gain  the  rear  of  his  forces,  to 
take  possession  of  the  boats,  and  effectually  to  cut  off”  their  retreat. 

“  This  was  done  with  such  effect,  at  the  moment  when  the  fire  of  Lieutenant  Fanning’s 
piece  had  caused  the  destruction  in  the  British  line,  that  General  Sir  George  Prevost  was 
well  convinced  of  the  vast  superiority  of  the  American  force  to  his  own.  He  gave  up  all 
thoughts  of  the  capture  of  the  place,  and  hurrying  to  his  boats,  put  off  immediately  to  the 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 


125 


British  squadron.  He  was  not  pursued,  because,  if  the  real  number  of  the  American 
troops  had  been  exposed  to  his  view,  he  would  have  returned  to  the  contest,  might  easily 
have  outflanked,  and  in  all  human  probability,  would  still  have  captured  the  army  and  the 
village. 

“  But  the  precipitation  of  his  flight  was  such,  that  he  left  not  only  the  wounded  bodies  of 
his  ordinary  men  upon  the  field,  but  those  of  the  dead  and  wounded  of  the  most  distin¬ 
guished  of  his  officers.  Among  these  were  Quartermaster-general  Gray,  Majors  Moodie 
and  Evans,  and  three  captains.  The  return  of  his  loss,  as  accurately  as  it  has  been  ascer¬ 
tained,  amounted  to  three  field  officers,  one  captain,  and  twenty-five  rank  and  file,  found 
dead  on  the  field ;  two  captains  and  twenty  rank  and  file  found  wounded  ;  and  two  cap¬ 
tains,  one  ensign,  and  thirty-two  rank  and  file  made  prisoners.  In  addition  to  which,  many 
were  killed  in  the  boats,  and  numbers  had  been  carried  away  previously  to  the  retreat. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  greater  in  proportion,  as  the  number  of  their  men  engaged 
were  less.  One  colonel  of  volunteers,  twenty  regulars,  privates,  and  one  volunteer  private, 
were  killed ;  one  lieutenant-colonel,  three  lieutenants,  and  one  ensign  of  the  regulars,  and 
seventy-nine  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  were  wounded ;  and  twenty-six  non¬ 
commissioned  officers  and  privates  were  missing.  Their  aggregate  loss  was  one  hundred 
and  ten  regulars,  twenty-one  volunteers,  and  twenty-five  militia ;  making  a  total  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-six.  It  was  severe,  because  of  the  worth,  more  than  of  the  number  of 
those  who  fell.  The  injury  in  public  stores,  sustained  at  Sackett’s  Harbor,  though  not  by 
any  act  of  the  invading  enemy,  was  extensive ;  but  the  gallantry  of  several  individuals 
prevented  its  being  more  so.  Lieutenant  Chauncey  was  no  sooner  apprized  of  the  error  of 
the  report  which  had  been  brought  to  him,  than  he  made  every  exertion  to  save  as  much  of 
the  public  property  as  it  was  possible  to  rescue  from  the  increasing  conflagration,  and  to 
that  effect,  he  ran  the  Fair  American  and  the  Pert  up  the  river.  The  new  frigate,  the  Gen 
eral  Pike,  which  was  then  on  the  stocks,  was  saved ;  and  Lieutenant  Talman,  of  the  army, 
at  the  imminent  risk  of  his  life,  boarded  the  prize  schooner  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  which 
was  then  on  fire,  with  a  considerable  quantity  of  powder  in  her  hold,  extinguished  the  fire, 
and  brought  her  from  under  the  flames  of  the  storehouses. 

“  Notwithstanding  this  signal  repulse,  the  British  commanding  officers  attempted  to  play 
off  the  stratagem  which  Sir  James  Yeo  afterward  adopted  at  the  Forty  Mile  Creek.  They 
sent  in  a  flag  with  a  peremptory  demand  for  the  formal  surrender  of  the  post,  which  was  as 
peremptorily  refused.” 

The  British  colonel,  Gray,  fell  near  the  present  residence  of  Mr. 
John  Hall,  in  Hill-street,  and  the  stump  against  which  he  reposed  his 
head,  is  still  to  be  seen  by  the  sidewalk.  He  was  a  noble-looking 
man,  about  six  feet  in  height,  and  about  forty  years  of  age.  Beside 
him  was  a  Glengarian  officer,  mortally  wounded.  A  private  named 
David  Johnson,  from  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  lay  near,  wounded  in 
a  most  horrible  manner.  This  young  man  was  a  widow’s^  only  son. 
At  the  time  of  his  enlistment  at  Greenbush,  his  mother  requested  the 
sergeant  to  take  good  care  of  him.  His  face  was  carried  away  by  a 
side  shot  from  below  his  forehead,  downward,  including  his  eyes, 
nose,  upper  jaw,  tongue,'  and  some  of  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw.  He 
notwithstanding  had  his  reason.  Being  requested  by  the  bystanders, 
if  he  wanted  water  to  lift  up  his  right  hand,  he  did  so.  A  soldier 
who  was  shot  by  a  musket  ball  through  the  abdomen,  informed  his 
captain,  who  gave  him  permission  to  leave  the  ground,  with  the  ex¬ 
pectation  that  he  would  fall  before  he  had  got  many  rods  distant.  An 
hour  or  two  after  the  battle,  the  officer  was  astonished  to  meet  the 
man  quietly  walking  in  the  streets  of  the  village.  He  asked  him 
where  he  had  been  ?  “  To  get  some  milk,”  was  the  reply.  It  appears 

that  he  had  not  eaten  any  thing  for  thirty  hours  previous  to  the  ac¬ 
tion,  and  the  ball  was  thus  enabled  to  pass  through  the  intestines 
without  mortal  injury. 


126 


KINGS  COUNTY 


KINGS  COUNTY. 

Kings  county  was  organized  in  1683,  by  an  act  of  the  colonial  as¬ 
sembly  dividing  the  province,  and  abolishing  the  ridings  which  previ¬ 
ously  existed.  Its  greatest  length  is  12,  and  greatest  breadth  7  miles. 
The  county  includes  Coney  and  Barren  islands,  and  all  other  islands 
soutli  of  the  town  of  Gravesend.  The  surface  on  the  NE.  for  three 
or  four  miles  back  from  the  river  is  hilly  and  ridgy.  Upon  the  SE.  a 
plain  of  sandy  loam  and  sand  extends  to  the  ocean.  The  soil  for  the 
most  part  is  light.,  warm,  and  when  properly  manured,  fertile.  It  is 
generally  well  improved,  and  supplies  a  large  portion  of  the  vegetables 
sold  in  New  York.  The  first  settlement  in  the  county  was  made  at 
Brooklyn  in  1625.  In  1641,  the  Dutch  government  permitted  some 
English  settlers  to  locate  themselves  at  Gravesend.  All  the  other  towns 
of  the  county  appear  to  have  been  settled  by  the  Dutch.  The  county 
courts  were  originally  held  at  the  village  of  Gravesend  ;  they  were  re¬ 
moved  in  1686  to  Flatbush,  where  they  were  held  till  1832,  when  they 
were  removed  to  Brooklyn.  The  county  contains  seven  towns  : 

Brooklyn  city,  Flatbush,  Gravesend,  Williamsburg. 

Bushwick,  Flatlands,  New-Utrecht, 


Northern  view  of  the  Navy-yard  at  Brooklyn. 


The  most  compact  part  of  Brooklyn  was  incorporated  into  a  village 
in  1816,  which,  although  much  opposed  by  a  portion  of  the  population, 
gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  spirit  of  improvement,  which  has  resulted  in 
raising  it  to  be  the  second  city  in  point  of  population  in  the  state  of 
New  York.  In  April,  1834,  the  whole  territory  of  the  town  was  incor¬ 
porated  under  the  name  of  the  “City  of  Brooklyn.”  It  is  divided  into 
9  wards  ;  the  powers  of  the  corporation  are  vested  in  a  mayor,  and  a 
board  of  aldermen,  composed  of  two  elected  from  each  ward.  Brook¬ 
lyn  contains  28  churches,  viz  :  6  Episcopalians,  2  Dutch  Reformed,  7 
Presbyterian,  2  Baptist,  4  Episcopal  Methodist,  1  Centenary  Episco¬ 
pal  Methodist,  1  Primitive  Methodist,  1  Wesleyan  Methodist,  2  Ro¬ 
man  Catholic,  1  Unitarian  Congregational  Church,  and  1  Friends 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


127 


meeting-house.  Population  in  1820,  7,175;  in  1825,  10,790;  in 
1830,  15,394;  in  1835,  25,312;  in  1840,  36,233  ;  in  1850,  96,850. 

The  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  the  buildings,  shipping,  &c., 
at  the  navy-yard,  Brooklyn,  as  seen  from  Corlaer’s  Hook.  The 
United  States  possess  about  forty  acres  at  this  spot,  including  the  old 
mill-pond.  Here  have  been  erected  a  spacious  navy-yard,  public 
stores,  machine  shops,  and  two  immense  edifices,  in  which  the  largest 
ships  are  protected  from  the  weather,  while  building.  On  the  east 
side  of  the  Wallabout  bay,  opposite  the  navy-yard,  stands  the  U.  S. 
Naval  Hospital,  a  magnificent  structure.  The  Wallabout  was  the 
scene  of  the  heart-rending  sufferings  of  many  thousand  American  pris¬ 
oners  confined  in  the  prison  ships  stationed  in  the  bay.  The  following, 
relating  to  these  vessels,  was  written  by  Jeremiah  Johnson,  Esq.,  of 
Brooklyn,  a  gentleman  who  has  filled  many  public  offices  in  this  place. 

“  The  subject  of  the  naval  prisoners,  and  of  the  British  prison  ships  stationed  at  the  Wal¬ 
labout  during  the  revolution,  is  one  which  cannot  be  passed  by  in  silence.  From  printed 
journals  published  in  New  York  at  the  close  of  the  war,  it  appears  that  eleven  thousand 
five  hundred  American  prisoners  had  died  on  board  the  prison  ships.  Although  the  num¬ 
ber  is  very  great,  still,  if  the  number  who  perished  had  been  less,  the  commissary  of  naval 
prisoners,  David  Sprout,  Esq.,  and  his  deputy,  had  it  in  their  power,  by  an  official  return, 
to  give  the  true  number  exchanged,  escaped,  and  dead.  Such  a  return  has  never  appeared 
in  the  United  States.  This  man  returned  to  America  after  the  war,  and  resided  in  Phila¬ 
delphia,  where  he  died.  He  could  not  have  been  ignorant  of  the  statement  published  here 
on  this  interesting  subject.  We  may  therefore  infer,  that  about  that  number  perished  in 
the  prison  ships.  A  large  transport,  named  the  Whitby,  was  the  first  prison  ship  anchored 
in  the  Wallabout.  She  was  moored  near  ‘  Remsen’s  Mill,’  about  the  20th  of  October, 

1776,  and  was  crowded  with  prisoners.  Many  landsmen  were  prisoners  on  board  this 
vessel  ;  she  was  said  to  be  the  most  sickly  of  all  the  prison  ships.  Bad  provisions,  bad 
water,  and  scanted  rations  were  dealt  to  the  prisoners.  No  medical  men  attended  the  sick. 
Disease  reigned  unrelieved,  and  hundreds  died  from  pestilence,  or  were  starved,  on  board 
this  floating  prison.  I  saw  the  sand-beach  between  a  ravine  in  the  hill  and  Mr.  Remsen’s 
dock  becomo  filled  with  graves  in  the  course  of  two  months  ;  and  before  the  1st  of  May, 

1777,  the  ravine  alluded  to  was  itself  occupied  in  the  same  way.  In  the  month  of  May  of 
that  year  two  large  ships  were  anchored  in  the  Wallabout,  when  the  prisoners  were  trans¬ 
ferred  from  the  Whitby  to  them.  These  vessels  were  also  very  sickly,  from  the  causes 
before  stated.  Although  many  prisoners  were  sent  on  board  of  them  and  were  exchanged, 
death  made  room  for  all.  On  a  Sunday  afternoon,  about  the  middle  of  October,  1777,  one 
of  the  prison  ships  was  burnt ;  the  prisoners,  except  a  few,  who,  it  is  said,  were  burnt  in 
the  vessel,  were  removed  to  the  remaining  ship.  It  was  reported  at  the  time  that  the  pris¬ 
oners  had  fired  their  prison  ;  which,  if  true,  proves  that  they  preferred  death,  even  by  fire, 
to  the  lingering  sufferings  of  pestilence  and  starvation.  In  the  month  of  February,  1778, 
the  remaining  prison  ship  was  burnt  at  night ;  when  the  prisoners  were  removed  from  her 
to  the  ships  then  wintering  in  the  Wallabout.  In  the  month  of  April,  1778,  the  Old  Jersey 
was  moored  in  the  Wallabout,  and  all  the  prisoners  (except  the  sick)  were  transferred  to 
her.  The  sick  were  carried  to  two  hospital  ships,  named  the  Hope  and  Falmouth,  anchor¬ 
ed  near  each  other  about  two  hundred  yards  east  from  the  Jersey.  These  ships  remained 
in  the  Wallabout  until  New  York  was  evacuated  by  the  British.  The  Jersey  was  the  re¬ 
ceiving-ship — the  others,  truly,  the  ships  of  Death  !  It  has  been  generally  thought  that  all 
the  prisoners  died  on  board  of  the  Jersey.  This  is  not  true  ;  many  may  have  died  on  board 
of  her  who  were  not  reported  as  sick :  but  all  the  men  who  were  placed  on  the  sick-list 
were  removed  to  the  hospital  ships,  from  which  they  were  usually  taken,  sewed  up  in  a 
blanket,  to  their  long  home. 

“  After  the  hospital  ships  were  brought  into  the  Wallabout,  it  was  reported  that  the  sick 
were  attended  by  physicians  ;  few,  very  few,  however,  recovered.  It  was  no  uncommon 
thing  to  see  five  or  six  dead  bodies  brought  on  shore  in  a  single  morning ;  when  a  small 
excavation  would  be  made  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  bodies  be  cast  in,  and  a  man  with  a 
6hovel  would  cover  them  by  shovelling  sand  down  the  hill  upon  them.  Many  were  buried 
in  a  ravine  on  the  hill  ;  some  on  the  farm.  The  whole  shore  from  Rennie’s  Point  to  Mr. 
Remsen’s  dock-yard  was  a  place  of  gra  tres  ;  as  were  also  the  slope  of  the  hill  near  the 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


129 


channel  of  the  river  below  New  York.  The  troops  of  both  divisions 
of  the  British  army  were  landed  on  Staten  Island  after  their  arrival 
in  the  bay,  to  recruit  their  strength  and  prepare  for  the  coming  con¬ 
flict.  It  was  not  till  the  middle  of  August,  that  a  first  landing  on 
Long  Island  was  made  by  them  at  New  Utrecht.  Here  they  were 
joined  by  many  royalists  from  the  neighborhood,  who  probably  acted 
the  infamous  part  of  informers  and  guides  to  the  enemy.  General 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  arrived  about  the  same  time,  with  the  troops  re¬ 
conducted  from  the  expedition  to  Charleston. 

“  Commodore  Hotham  already  appeared  there  with  the  reinforce¬ 
ments  under  his  escort ;  so  that  in  a  short  time  the  hostile  army 
amounted  to  about  twenty-four  thousand  men, — English,  Hessians, 
and  Waldeckers.  Several  regiments  of  Hessian  infantry  were  ex¬ 
pected  to  arrive  shortly,  when  the  army  would  be  swelled  to  the 
number  of  thirty-five  thousand  combatants,  of  the  best  troops  of  Eu¬ 
rope,  all  abundantly  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  mani¬ 
festing  an  extreme  ardor  for  the  service  of  their  king.  The  plan 
was,  first  to  get  possession  of  New  York,  which  was  deemed  of  most 
essential  importance. 

“  To  resist  this  impending  storm,  Congress  had  ordained  the  construction  of  rafts,  gun. 
boats,  galleys,  and  floating  batteries,  for  the  defence  of  the  port  of  New  York  and  the 
mouth  of  the  Hudson.  They  had  also  decreed  that  thirteen  thotlsand  of  the  provincial 
militia  should  join  the  army  of  Washington,  who,  being  seasonably  apprized  of  the  danger 
of  New  York,  had  made  a  movement  into  that  quarter;  they  also  directed  the  organiza. 
tion  of  a  corps  of  ten  thousand  men,  destined  to  serve  as  a  reserve  in  the  province  of  the 
centre.  All  the  weakest  posts  had  been  carefully  intrenched,  and  furnished  with  artillery. 
A  strong  detachment  occupied  Long  Island,  to  prevent  the  English  from  landing  there,  or 
to  repulse  them  if  they  should  effect  a  debarkation.  But  the  army  of  Congress  was  very 
far  from  having  all  the  necessary  means  to  support  the  burden  of  so  terrible  a  war.  It 
wanted  arms,  and  it  was  wasted  by  diseases.  The  reiterated  instances  of  the  commander, 
in-chief  had  drawn  into  his  camp  the  militia  of  the  neighboring  provinces,  and  some  regular 
regiments  from  Maryland,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  from  New  England,  which  had  swelled 
his  army  to  the  number  of  twenty-seven  thousand  men ;  but  a  fourth  of  these  troops  were 
composed  of  invalids,  and  scarcely  was  another  fourth  furnished  with  arms. 

“  The  American  army,  such  as  it  was,  occupied  the  positions  most  suitable  to  cover  the 
menaced  points.  The  corps  which  had  been  stationed  on  Long  Island,  was  commanded 
by  Major-general  Greene,  who,  on  account  of  sickness,  was  afterward  succeeded  by  Gene¬ 
ral  Sullivan.  The  main  body  of  the  army  encamped  on  the  island  of  New  York,  which,  it 
appeared,  was  destined  to  receive  the  first  blows  of  the  English. 

“  Two  feeble  detachments  guarded  Governor’s  Island  and  the  point  of  Paulus’  Hook. 
The  militia  of  the  province,  commanded  by  the  American  General  Clinton,  were  posted 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Sound,  where  they  occupied  the  two  Chesters,  East  and  West,  and 
New  Rochelle.  For  it  was  to  be  feared  that  the  enemy,  landing  in  force  upon  the  north 
shore  of  the  Sound,  might  penetrate  to  Kingsbridge,  and  thus  entirely  lock  up  all  the  Amer¬ 
ican  troops  on  the  island  of  New  York.  Lord  Howe  made  some  overtures  of  peace  upon 
terms  of  submission  to  the  royal  demency,  which,  resulting  in  nothing,  decided  the  British 
general  to  attack  Long  Island.  ‘  Accordingly,’  says  Botta,  ‘  on  the  twenty-second  of  Au¬ 
gust,  the  fleet  approached  the  Narrows;  all  the  troops  found  an  easy  and  secure  landing- 
place  between  the  villages  of  Gravesend  and  New  Utrecht,  where  they  debarked  without 
meeting  any  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Americans.  A  great  part  of  the  American  army, 
under  the  command  of  General  Putnam,  encamped  at  Brooklyn  in  a  part  of  the  island  which 
forms  a  sort  of  peninsula.  He  had  strongly  fortified  the  entrance  of  it  with  moats  and  in- 
trenchments ;  his  left  wing  rested  upon  the  Wallabout  bay,  and  his  right  was  covered  by  a 
marsh  contiguous  to  Gowatius’  Cove.  Behind  him  he  had  Governor’s  Island,  and  the  arm 
of  the  sea  which  separates  Long  Island  from  the  Island  of  New  York,  and  which  gave  him 
a  direct  communication  with  the  city,  where  the  other  part  of  the  army  was  stationed  under 
Washington  himself.  The  commander-in-chief,  perceiving  the  battle  was  approaching, 
continually  exhorted  his  men  to  keep  their  ranks,  and  summon  all  their  courage :  he  re. 

17 


130 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


minded  them  that  in  their  valor  rested  the  only  hope  that  remained  to  American  liberty  ;  that 
upon  their  resistance  depended  the  preservation  or  the  pillage  of  their  property  by  barbarians  ; 
that  they  were  about  to  combat  in  defence  of  their  parents,  their  wives,  and  their  children, 
from  the  outrages  of  a  licentious  soldiery ;  that  the  eyes  of  America  were  fixed  upon  her 
champions,  and  expected  from  their  success  on  this  day  either  safety  or  total  destruction.’ 

“  The  English  having  effected  their  landing,  marched  rapidly  for¬ 
ward.  The  two  armies  were  separated  by  a  chain  of  hills,  covered 
with  woods,  called  the  heights,  and  which,  running  from  west  to  east, 
divide  the  island  into  two  parts.  They  are  only  practicable  upon 
three  points  :  one  of  which  is  near  the  Narrows  ;  the  road  leading  to 
that  of  the  centre  passes  the  village  of  Flatbush ;  and  the  third  is  ap¬ 
proached,  far  to  the  right,  by  the  route  of  another  village  called  Flat- 
lands.  Upon  the  summit  of  the  hills  is  found  a  road,  which  follows 
the  length  of  the  range,  and  leads  from  Bedford  to  Jamaica,  which  is 
intersected  by  the  two  roads  last  described :  these  ways  are  all  in¬ 
terrupted  by  precipices,  and  by  excessively  difficult  and  narrow 
defiles. 

“  The  American  general,  wishing  to  arrest  the  enemy  upon  these 
heights,  had  carefully  furnished  them  with  troops ;  so  that,  if  all  had 
done  their  duty,  the  English  would  not  have  been  able  to  force  the 
passages  without  extreme  difficulty  and  danger.  The  posts  were  so 
frequent  upon  the  road  from  Bedford  to  Jamaica,  that  it  was  easy  to 
transmit,  from  one  of  these  points  to  the  other,  the  most  prompt  in¬ 
telligence  of  what  passed  upon  the  three  routes.  Colonel  Miles,  with 
his  battalion,  was  to  guard  the  road  of  Flatland,  and  to  scour  it  con¬ 
tinually  with  his  scouts,  as  well  as  that  of  Jamaica,  in  order  to  recon¬ 
noitre  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  Meanwhile  the  British  army 
pressed  forward,  its  left  wing  being  to  the  north  and  its  right  to  the 
south ;  the  village  of  Flatbush  was  found  in  its  centre.  The  Hes¬ 
sians,  commanded  by  General  Heister,  formed  the  main  body ;  the 
English,  under  Major-general  Grant,  the  left ;  and  the  other  corps,  con¬ 
ducted  by  General  Clinton,  and  the  two  lords,  Percy  and  Cornwallis, 
composed  the  right.  In  this  wing  the  British  generals  had  placed 
their  principal  hope  of  success  ;  they  directed  it  upon  Flatland.  Their 
plan  was,  that  while  the  corps  of  General  Grant,  and  the  Hessians 
of  General  Heister,  should  disquiet  the  enemy  upon  the  two  first  de¬ 
files,  the  left  wing,  taking  a  circuit,  should  march  through  Flatland, 
and  endeavor  to  seize  the  point  of  intersection  of  this  road  with  that 
of  Jamaica ;  and  then  rapidly  descending  into  the  plain  which  extends 
at  the  foot  of  the  heights  upon  the  other  side,  should  fall  upon  the 
Americans  in  flank  and  rear.  The  English  hoped,  that  as  this  post 
was  the  most  distant  from  the  centre  of  the  army,  the  advanced 
guards  would  be  found  more  feeble  there,  and  perhaps  more  negli¬ 
gent  :  finally,  they  calculated  that,  in  all  events,  the  Americans  would 
not  be  able  to  defend  it  against  a  force  so  superior.  This  right  wing 
of  the  English  was  the  most  numerous,  and  entirely  composed  of  se¬ 
lect  troops. 

“  The  evening  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  August,  General  Clinton  commanded  the  vanguard, 
which  consisted  in  light  infantry ;  Lord  Percy  the  centre,  where  were  found  the  grenadiers, 
die  artillery,  and  the  cavalry;  and  Cornwallis,  the  rear-guard,  followed  by  the  baggage 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


131 


some  regiments  of  infantry  and  of  heavy  artillery ;  all  this  part  of  the  English  army  put 
itself  in  motion  with  admirable  order  and  silence,  and  leaving  Flatland,  traversed  the  coun. 
try  called  New  Lots.  Colonel  Miles,  who  this  night  performed  his  service  with  little  ex¬ 
actness,  did  not  perceive  the  approach  of  the  enemy ;  so  that  two  hours  before  day  the 
English  were  already  arrived  within  a  half  mile  of  the  road  to  Jamaica,  upon  the  heights. 
Then  General  Clinton  halted,  and  prepared  himself  for  the  attack.  He  had  met  one  of  the 
enemy’s  patrols,  and  made  him  prisoner.  General  Sullivan,  who  commanded  all  the  troops 
in  advance  of  the  camp  of  Brooklyn,  had  no  advice  of  what  passed  in  this  quarter.  He 
neglected  to  send  out  fresh  scouts ;  perhaps  he  supposed  the  English  would  direct  their 
principal  efforts  against  his  right  wing,  as  being  nearest  to  them. 

“  General  Clinton,  learning  from  his  prisoners  that  the  road  to  Jamaica  was  not  guarded, 
hastened  to  avail  himself  of  the  circumstance,  and  occupied  it  by  a  rapid  movement. 
Without  loss  of  time  he  immediately  bore  to  his  left  towards  Bedford,  and  seized  an  im¬ 
portant  defile,  which  the  American  generals  had  left  unguarded.  From  this  moment  the 
success  of  the  day  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  English.  Lord  Percy  came  up  with  his 
corps ;  and  the  entire  column  descended  by  the  village  of  Bedford  from  the  heights  into 
the  plain  which  lay  between  the  hills  and  the  camp  of  the  Americans.  During  this  time 
General  Grant,  in  order  to  amuse  the  enemy,  and  divert  his  attention  from  the  events 
which  took  place  upon  the  route  of  Flatland,  endeavored  to  disquiet  him  upon  his  right : 
accordingly,  as  if  he  intended  to  force  the  defile  which  led  to  it,  he  had  put  himself  in  mo¬ 
tion  about  midnight,  and  had  attacked  the  militia  of  New  York  and  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
guarded  it.  They  at  first  gave  ground ;  but  General  Parsons  being  arrived,  and  having 
occupied  an  eminence,  he  renewed  the  combat,  and  maintained  his  position  till  Brigadier- 
general  Lord  Stirling  came  to  his  assistance  with  fifteen  hundred  men.  The  action  be¬ 
came  extremely  animated,  and  fortune  favored  neither  the  one  side  nor  the  other.  The 
Hessians,  on  their  part,  had  attacked  the  centre  at  break  of  day ;  and  the  Americans,  com¬ 
manded  by  General  Sullivan  in  person,  valiantly  sustained  their  efforts.  At  the  same  time 
the  English  ships,  after  having  made  several  movements,  opened  a  very  brisk  cannonade 
against  a  battery  established  in  the  little  island  of  Red  Hook,  upon  the  right  flank  of  the 
Americans,  who  combated  against  General  Grant.  This  also  was  a  diversion,  the  object 
of  which  was  to  prevent  them  from  attending  to  what  passed  in  the  centre  and  on  the  left. 
The  Americans  defended  themselves,  however,  with  extreme  gallantry,  ignorant  that  so 
much  valor  was  exerted  in  vain,  since  victory  was  already  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
General  Clinton  being  descended  into  the  plain,  fell  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  centre,  which 
was  engaged  with  the  Hessians.  He  had  previously  detached  a  small  corps,  in  order  to 
intercept  the  Americans. 

“  As  soon  as  the  appearance  of  the  English  light  infantry  apprized 
them  of  their  danger,  they  sounded  the  retreat,  and  retired  in  good 
order  towards  their  camp,  bringing  off  their  artillery.  But  they  soon 
fell  in  with  the  party  of  royal  troops  which  had  occupied  the  ground 
on  their  rear,  and  who  now  charged  them  with  fury ;  they  were 
compelled  to  throw  themselves  into  the  neighboring  woods,  where 
they  met  again  with  the  Hessians,  who  repulsed  them  upon  the  Eng¬ 
lish  ;  and  thus  the  Americans  were  driven  several  times  by  the  one 
against  the  other  with  great  loss.  They  continued  for  some  time  in 
this  desperate  situation,  till  at  length  several  regiments,  animated  by 
an  heroic  valor,  opened  their  way  through  the  midst  of  the  enemy, 
and  gained  the  camp  of  General  Putnam ;  others  escaped  through 
the  woods.  The  inequality  of  the  ground,  the  great  numbers  of  po¬ 
sitions  which  it  offered,  and  the  disorder  which  prevailed  throughout 
the  line,  were  the  cause  that  for  several  hours  divers  partial  combats 
were  maintained,  in  which  many  of  the  Americans  fell. 

“  Their  left  wing  and  centre  being  discomfited,  the  English,  desir¬ 
ous  of  a  complete  victory,  made  a  rapid  movement  against  the  rear 
of  the  right  wing,  which,  in  ignorance  of  the  misfortune  which  had 
befallen  the  other  corps,  was  engaged  with  General  Grant.  Finally, 
having  received  the  intelligence,  they  retired.  But,  encountering 


132 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


the  English,  who  cut  off  their  retreat,  a  part  of  the  soldiers  took  shel-' 
ter  in  the  woods  ;  others  endeavored  to  make  their  way  through  the 
marshes  of  Gowan’s  Cove  ;  but  here  many  were  drowned  in  the  wa¬ 
ters  or  perished  in  the  mud ;  a  very  small  number  only  escaped  the 
hot  pursuit  of  the  victors,  and  reached  the  camp  in  safety.  The  total 
loss  of  the  Americans,  in  this  battle,  was  estimated  at  more  than  three 
thousand  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  Among  the  last 
were  found  General  Sullivan,  and  Brigadier-general  Lord  Stirling. 
Almost  the  entire  regiment  of  Maryland,  consisting  of  young  men  of 
the  best  families  in  that  province,  was  cut  to  pieces.  Six  pieces  of 
cannon  fell  into  the  power  of  the  victors.  The  loss  of  the  English 
was  very  inconsiderable  ;  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  it  did  not 
amount  to  four  hundred  men. 

“  The  enemy  encamped  in  front  of  the  American  lines  ;  and  on  the 
succeeding  night  broke  ground  within  six  hundred  yards  of  a  redoubt 
on  the  left,  and  threw  up  a  breastwork  on  the  Wallabout  heights, 
upon  the  Debevoice  farm,  commenced  firing  on  Fort  Putnam,  and 
reconnoitred  the  American  forces.  The  Americans  were  here  pre¬ 
pared  to  receive  them  ;  and  orders  issued  to  the  men  to  reserve  their 
fire  till  they  could  see  the  eyes  of  the  enemy.  A  few  of  the  British 
officers  reconnoitred  the  position,  and  one,  on  coming  near,  was  shot 
by  William  Van  Cotts,  of  Bushwick.  The  same  afternoon  Captain 
Rutgers,  brother  of  the  late  Colonel  Rutgers,  also  fell.  Several  other 
British  troops  were  killed,  and  the  column  which  had  incautiously 
advanced,  fell  back  beyond  the  range  of  the  American  fire.  In  this 
critical  state  of  the  American  army  on  Long  Island — in  front  a  nu¬ 
merous  and  victorious  enemy  with  a  formidable  train  of  artillery,  the 
fleet  indicating  an  intention  of  forcing  a  passage  up  the  East  river, 
the  troops  lying  without  shelter  from  heavy  rains,  fatigued  and  dis¬ 
pirited — General  Washington  determined  to  withdraw  the  army  from 
the  island ;  and  this  difficult  movement  was  effected  with  great  skill 
and  judgment,  and  with  complete  success.  The  retreat  was  to  have 
commenced  at  eight  o’clock  in  the  evening  of  the  29th,  but  a  strong 
northeast  wind  and  a  rapid  tide  caused  a  delay  of  several  hours  ;  a 
southwest  wind,  springing  up  at  eleven,  essentially  facilitated  its  pas¬ 
sage  from  the  island  to  the  city  ;  and  a  thick  fog  hanging  over  Long 
Island  towards  morning,  concealed  its  movements  from  the  enemy, 
who  were  so  near  that  the  sound  of  their  pick-axes  and  shovels  was 
distinctly  heard  by  the  Americans. 

“  General  Washington,  as  far  as  possible,  inspected  every  thing 
from  the  commencement  of  the  action  on  the  morning  of  the  27th ; 
till  the  troops  were  safely  across  the  river,  he  never  closed  his  eyes, 
and  was  almost  constantly  on  horseback.  After  this  the  British  and 
their  allies,  the  tories  and  refugees,  had  possession  of  Long  Island  ; 
and  many  distressing  scenes  occurred,  which  were  never  made  public, 
and  can  therefore  never  be  known.  The  whigs,  who  had  been  at 
all  active  in  behalf  of  independence,  were  exiled  from  their  homes, 
and  their  dwellings  were  objects  of  indiscriminate  plunder.  Such  as 
could  be  taken,  were  incarperated  in  the  church  of  New  Utrecht  and 


KINGS  COUNTY 


133 


Flatlands  ;  while  royalists,  by  wearing  a  red  badge  in  their  hats,  were 
protected  and  encouraged.  It  is  believed  that  had  Lord  Howe  availed 
himself  of  the  advantages  he  possessed  by  passing  his  ships  up  the 
river  between  Brooklyn  and  New  York,  the  whole  American  army 
must  have  been  almost  inevitably  captured  or  annihilated.  General 
Washington  saw  but  too  plainly  the  policy  which  might  have  been 
pursued,  and  wisely  resolved  rather  to  abandon  the  island  than  attempt 
to  retain  it  at  the  risk  of  sacrificing  his  army.” 


Western  view  of  Williamsburg ,  New  York. 

No v.  30,  1840, 

The  above  shows  the  appearance  of  the  central  part  of  the  village 
of  Williamsburg,  as  seen  from  the  New  York  side  of  the  East  river. 
This  flourishing  village  was  till  within  a  few  years  an  inconsider¬ 
able  place,  although  it  was  commenced  by  a  few  spirited  individuals 
nearly  thirty  years  ago,  by  erecting  a  few  houses  and  establishing  a 
ferry  between  it  and  the  foot  of  Grand-street.  In  1817,  a  ferry  boat, 
impelled  by  horse  power,  gave  Williamsburg  a  new  impulse,  and  in 
1827,  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained.  The  village  has  a  bold 
water  front  upon  the  East  river,  one  mile  and  a  half  in  extent,  and 
a  sufficient  depth  of  water  for  all  commercial  purposes.  Several 
large  and  substantial  wharves  and  docks  have  been  constructed, 
affording  safe  and  convenient  moorings  for  vessels  even  of  the  largest 
class.  Its  ferry  is  the  nearest  approximation  to  the  upper  parts  of 
the  city  of  New  York  from  the  eastern  towns  of  Long  Island,  by  two 
lines  of  steam  ferry  boats.  So  great  has  been  the  progress  of  im¬ 
provement  that  the  ancient  village  of  Bushwick  can  scarcely  be  iden¬ 
tified,  having  been  amalgamated  with  Williamsburg.  The  village  has 
now  upwards  of  70  streets  permanently  laid  out,  about  30  of  which 
have  been  graded  and  regulated,  some  paved,  and  one  macadamized. 
There  are  upwards  of  six  hundred  dwellings,  5  churches — 3  Method¬ 
ist,  1  Dutch  Reformed,  and  1  Episcopal — a  newspaper  printing  office, 
and  manufacturing  establishments  of  various  kinds.  Population  of 
the  village  in  1840,  5,094  ;  in  1845,  11,338 ;  in  1850,  30,786. 


134 


LEWIS  COUNTY. 


LEWIS  COUNTY. 

Lewis  county  was  taken  from  Oneida  in  1805,  and  named  in  honor 
of  Governor  Morgan  Lewis.  Centrally  distant  NW.  from  New  York 
275,  and  from  Albany  130  miles.  Greatest  length  N.  and  S.  54; 
greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  35  miles.  The  whole  of  this  county  was 
included  in  the  patent  from  the  state  to  Alexander  Macomb,  and  was 
sold  by  him  to  William  Constable,  and  by  the  latter  in  parcels  :  the 
portion  west  of  the  Black  river,  to  capitalists  in  New  York  city,  among 
whom  Nicholas  Low,  Richard  Harrison,  and  Josiah  Ogden  Hoffman, 
were  principal  purchasers  ;  and  the  portion  on  the  east  of  the  Black 
river,  to  a  French  company  in  Paris.  From  these  sources  the  present 
possessors  derived  their  title.  The  first  settlements  commenced  here 
in  1795,  by  pioneers  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  who,  with 
characteristic  enterprise  and  perseverance,  entered  the  wilderness  with 
a  determination  to  surmount  the  most  formidable  obstacles.  There 
were  at  this  time  small  settlements  at  Utica  and  Fort  Stanwix,  (now 
Rome,)  whence  the  settlers  made  their  way  into  this  county,  by  a  line 
of  marked  trees,  to  the  High  Falls,  on  Black  river;  and  thence  floated 
with  the  stream  to  the  town  of  Lowville,  where  they  established  them¬ 
selves.  Their  families  followed  in  the  succeeding  winter,  shod  with 
snow  shoes  ;  mothers  making  their  way  with  infants  in  their  arms, 
whilst  their  husbands  and  fathers  trod  paths  through  the  snow  for  their 
cattle  and  teams.  It  was  not  unusual,  some  time  after,  for  farmers  to 
go  forty  miles  to  mill,  and  to  carry  the  grist  upon  their  shoulders. 

The  Black  river  divides  the  county  into  two  not  very  unequal  por¬ 
tions.  Upon  this  river  are  broad  alluvial  flats,  of  easy  cultivation  and 
highly  productive.  Of  the  Black  river  we  may  observe  here,  that  be¬ 
low  the  High  Falls  at  Leyden,  which  are  63  feet  in  altitude,  it  has  a 
tranquil  course  of  nearly  40  miles  through  the  country ;  in  all  which  it 
is  navigable  for  steamboats.  The  Black  river  canal,  the  construction 
of  which  was  authorized  in  May,  1836,  commences  at  Rome  in  Oneida 
county, 

The  county  is  at  present  thinly  inhabited,  but  it  merits  attention  from 
the  great  forests  of  useful  timber  which  encumber  the  soil,  the  beds  of 
iron  ore  which  lie  beneath  it,  and  the  vast  water-power  which  the 
streams  supply.  The  staple  products  are  wheat,  rye,  Indian  corn,  peas, 
beans,  oats,  and  barley,  and  the  whole  country  is  adapted  to  grass.  It 
is  divided  into  12  towns  : 

Croghan,  Greig,  Lowville,  Turin, 

Denmark,  Harrisburgh,  Martinsburgh,  Watson, 

Diana,  Leyden,  Pinckney,  West  Turin. 

Lowville,  on  the  great  road  from  Utica  to  Sacketts  Harbor,  3 \  miles 
from  Martinsbmg,  in  a  pleasant  valley,  handsomely  laid  out  in  squares, 
is  the  largest  village  in  the  county,  and  contains  4  churches,  a  flourishing 
incorporated  academy,  a  printing  office,  publishing  a  weekly  paper, 
1  large  grist  and  saw-mill,  and  60  neat  dwellings.  Martinsburg,  post 


LIVINGSTON  COUNTY. 


135 


village  and  county  town,  is  situated  upon  a  high  and  commanding  site, 
contains  a  court-house  and  prison  of  wood,  1  cotton  and  1  woollen  fac¬ 
tory,  40  dwellings,  the  Lewis  County  Bank,  and  a  printing  office. 

About  two  miles  from  Martinsburg  there  is  a  remarkable  chasm  near 
the  junction  of  two  forks  of  Whetstone  creek,  a  tributary  of  Black 
river.  It  is  about  200  feet  in  depth,  and  of  a  bowl-like  shape.  It  is 
known  by  the  name  of  Chimney  Point  Gulf. 


LIVINGSTON  COUNTY. 

Livingston  county  was  taken  from  Ontario  and  Genesee  counties 
in  1821.  Greatest  length  N.  and  Si  30  ;  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W. 
28  miles.  Centrally  distant  NW;  from  New  York  360,  and  from 
Albany  W.  224  miles.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  in  some  parts 
hilly,  in  others  quite  level,  or  but  gently  undulated.  Flats  of  rich  al¬ 
luvion  border  the  Genesee  river  in  its  course  through  the  county  from 
1  to  2  miles  in  width,  but  a  gravelly  loam  predominates  on  the  upland. 
The  great  staples  are  wheat,  pork,  and  cattle.  Of  the  first,  it  is  esti¬ 
mated  that  there  is  an  annual  surplus  of  over  a  million  of  bushels. 

The  Avon  Springs,  in  the  village  of  Avon  in  this  county,  about  10 
miles  from  Geneseo,  have  acquired  considerable  celebrity.  The  first, 
called  the  New  Avon  Bath  Spring,  was  discovered  in  1835.  Its  depth 
is  about  36  feet,  and  the  formation  through  which  the  water  passes  is 
limy  slate.  Analysis  and  experience  have  fully  tested  the  sanative  prop¬ 
erties  of  these  waters  ;  they  are  found  peculiarly  efficacious  in  disorders 
of  the  digestive  organs,  rheumatic  complaints,  and  gout,  and  in  many 
of  the  most  formidable  cutaneous  affections. 

The  Genesee  Valley  canal  enters  the  county  at  Caledonia,  and  follow¬ 
ing  the  valley  of  the  Genesee,  crosses  the  same  near  Mount  Morris,  and 
passing  along  the  valley  of  the  Cashqua  creek,  leaves  the  county  in  the 
southern  portion  of  Mount  Morris.  Four  miles  south  of  Mount  Morris 
village  a  branch  runs  to  Dansville.  The  county  is  part  of  the  tract 
ceded  to  Massachusetts,  and  is  divided  into  12  towns. 

Avon,  Geneseo,  Lima,  Sparta, 

Caledonia,  Groveland,  Livonia,  Springwater, 

Conesus,  Leicester,  Mount  Morris,  York. 

The  village  of  Geneseo,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Livingston  county, 
about  one  mile  from  the  river,  was  incorporated  in  1832.  It  contains 
about  1 20  dwellings,  the  county  buildings,  3  churches,  the  Livingston 
county  high  school,  2  newspaper  printing  offices,  and  a  bank.  Distant 
from  Albany  226,  from  Washington  345,  and  from  Rochester  about  27 
miles.  “The  village  is  pleasantly  situated  upon  a  site  sloping  to  the 
west,  and  enjoys  a  delightful  prospect,  stretching  across  the  valley,  and 
including  the  town  of  Leicester.  The  landscape,  embracing  an  area 


136 


LIVINGSTON  COUNTY. 


of  perhaps  fifteen  miles  in  diameter,  agreeably  undulated  with  gentle 
hills  and  valleys — rich  in  the  garniture  of  fields,  agreeably  interrupted 
by  masses  of  woods,  and  enlivened  by  villas,  bespeaking  the  comforta¬ 
ble  circumstances  of  their  owners — forms  a  prospect  of  matchless 
beauty.  It  is  rendered  still  more  picturesque  by  the  river,  which  flows 
lazily  through  the  valley,  but  disclosing  only  here  and  there  a  section 
of  the  stream,  breaking  through  the  bower  of  trees  and  clustering  vines 
by  which  its  bright  waters  are  overarched. 

“  This  town  was  first  settled  by  William  and  James  Wadsworth  in 
1790.  Lands  being  cheap,  and  they  being  gentlemen  of  sagacity,  who 
foresaw  the  rapid  growth  of  the  country  in  no  distant  prospective,  they 
were  enabled  to  accumulate  splendid  estates.  The  former,  Gen.  Wil¬ 
liam  Wadsworth,  served  with  his  militia  command  upon  the  Niagara 
frontier  during  the  last  war  with  England,  and  acquitted  himself  with 
gallantry.  Mr.  James  Wadsworth  (recently  deceased)  may  be  consid¬ 
ered  the  patriarch  of  the  Genesee  country.  The  whole  valley  of  the 
Genesee  was  studded  with  Indian  towns,  when  the  white  men  made 
their  advances  thither,  and  the  country  was  full  of  Indians  when  he 
planted  himself  down  among  them.  His  mansion,  the  abode  of  refine¬ 
ment  and  elegant  hospitality,  is  finely  situated  at  the  southern  extrem¬ 
ity  of  the  principal  street  of  the  village,  embosomed  in  groves  of  orna¬ 
mental  trees,  thickly  sprinkled,  among  which  are  the  elm,  locust,  and 
willow,  and  looking  out  upon  a  princely  domain  of  his  own,  including 
a  broad  sweep  of  flats . Adjacent  to  the  mansion  is  a  large  gar¬ 

den,  rich  with  every  description  of  fruit  which  the  climate  will  allow, 
and  adorned  with  flowers  of  every  variety  and  class  of  beauty. 

“  ....  It  was  at  this  point  that  the  memorable  campaign  of  Gen¬ 
eral  Sullivan  in  1779  was  brought  to  a  close.  In  setting  this  expedi¬ 
tion  on  foot,  it  was  the  intention  of  Washington  that  the  American 
forces  should  pass  through  to  the  great  Indian  and  loyalist  rendezvous 
at  Niagara ;  but  having  ravaged  the  most  populous  portions  of  the  In¬ 
dian  country,  Sullivan,  for  reasons  never  fully  explained,  proceeded  no 
further  than  Genesee — sending  a  detachment  across  the  river,  however, 
to  Little  Beardstown,  (now  the  town  of  Leicester.)  The  Indian  town 
of  Genesee,  lying  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  was  the  largest  of 
their  populous  places,  containing,  according  to  Sullivan’s  official  report, 
‘  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  houses,  most  of  them  very  elegant.  It 
was  beautifully  situated,  almost  encircled  with  a  clear  flat,  extending 
for  a  number  of  miles  ;  on  which  extensive  fields  of  corn  were  growing, 
together  with  every  kind  of  vegetable  that  could  be  conceived.’  This 
and  the  neighboring  towns,  together  with  thousands  of  acres  of  corn, 
were  destroyed.  The  Indians  were  disposed  to  make  a  stand  for  the 
protection*  of  their  towns,  but  the  numbers  and  discipline  of  Sullivan’s 
army  were  too  much  for  them.” 

During  Sullivan’s  expedition,  Lieut.  Boyd  with  a  scouting  party  had 
a  severe  battle  with  a  superior  force  of  Indians  in  this  vicinity.  Boyd 
and  a  man  named  Parker  were  taken  prisoners,  and  the  former  tortured 
in  the  most  horrible  manner.  The  following  account  is  from  Wilkin¬ 
son’s  Annals  of  Binghamton : 


LIVINGSTON  COUNTY. 


137 


“  From  Canandaigua  the  army  proceeded  to  Honeoye  which  they  destroyed ;  and  passing 
by  Hemlock  Lake,  they  came  to  the  head  of  Connissius  Lake,  where  the  army  encamped 
for  the  night,  on  the  ground  which  is  now  called  Henderson’s  Flats. 

“  Soon  after  the  army  had  encamped,  at  the  dusk  of  evening,  a  party  of  twenty-one  men, 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  William  Boyd,  was  detached  from  the  rifle  corps,  which  was 
commanded  by  the  celebrated  Morgan,  and  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the 
ground  near  the  Genesee  river,  at  a  place  now  called  Williamsburgh,  at  a  distance  from  the 
place  of  encampment  of  about  seven  miles,  and  under  the  guidance  of  a  faithful  Indian 
pilot.  The  place  was  then  the  site  of  an  Indian  village  ;  and  it  was  apprehended  that  the 
Indians  and  rangers,  as  their  allies  were  called,  might  be  there,  or  in  its  vicinity. 

“  When  the  party  arrived  at  Williamsburgh,  they  found  that  the  Indians  had  very  re¬ 
cently  left  the  place,  as  the  fires  in  their  huts  were  still  burning.  The  night  was  so  far  spent 
when  they  got  to  the  place  of  their  destination,  that  the  gallant  Boyd,  considering  the  fatigue 
of  his  men,  concluded  to  remain  quietly  where  he  was,  near  the  village,  sleeping  upon  their 
arms,  till  the  next  morning,  and  then  to  despatch  two  messengers  with  a  report  to  the  camp 
Accordingly,  a  little  before  daybreak,  he  sent  two  men  to  the  main  body  of  the  army  with 
information  that  the  enemy  had  not  been  discovered,  but  were  supposed  to  be  not  far  dis¬ 
tant,  from  the  fires  they  found  burning  the  evening  before. 

“  After  daylight,  Lieut.  Boyd  and  his  men  cautiously  crept  from  the  place  of  their  con¬ 
cealment,  and  upon  getting  a  view  of  the  village,  discovered  two  Indians  lurking  about  the 
settlement.  One  of  whom  was  immediately  shot  and  scalped  by  one  of  the  riflemen,  by 
the  name  of  Murphy.  Lieut.  Boyd — supposing  now  that  if  there  were  Indians  near  they 
would  be  aroused  by  the  report  of  the  rifle,  and  possibly  by  a  perception  of  what  had  just 
taken  place,  the  scalping  of  the  Indian — thought  it  most  prudent  to  retire  and  make  his  best 
way  back  to  the  main  army.  They  accordingly  set  out,  and  retraced  the  steps  they  had 
taken  the  evening  before. 

“  On  their  arriving  within  about  one  mile  and  a  half  of  the  main  army,  they  were  sur¬ 
prised  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  body  of  Indians,  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred,  un¬ 
der  the  command  of  Brant,  and  the  same  number  of  rangers,  commanded  by  the  infamous 
Butler,  who  had  secreted  themselves  in  a  ravine  of  considerable  extent,  which  lay  across 
(lie  track  that  Lieut.  Boyd  had  pursued.  These  two  leaders  of  the  enemy  had  not  lost 
sight  of  the  American  army  since  their  appalling  defeat  at  the  narrows  above  Newtown, 
though  they  had  not  shown  themselves  till  now.  With  what  dismay  they  must  have  wit¬ 
nessed  the  destruction  of  their  towns  and  the  fruits  of  their  fields,  that  marked  the  progress 
of  our  army  !  They  dare  not,  however,  any  more  come  in  contact  with  the  main  army, 
whatever  should  be  the  consequence  of  their  forbearance. 

“  Lieut.  Boyd  and  his  little  heroic  party,  upon  discovering  the  enemy,  knowing  that  the 
only  chance  for  their  escape  would  be  by  breaking  through  their  lines,  an  enterprise  of 
most  desperate  undertaking,  made  the  bold  attempt.  As  extraordinary  as  it  may  seem,  the 
first  onset,  though  unsuccessful,  was  made  without  the  loss  of  a  man  on  the  part  of  the 
heroic  band,  though  several  of  the  enemy  were  killed.  Two  attempts  more  were  made, 
which  were  equally  unsuccessful,  and  in  which  the  whole  party  fell,  excepting  Lieut.  Boyd 
and  eight  others.  Boyd  and  a  soldier  by  the  name  of  Parker,  were  taken  prisoners  on  the 
spot ;  a  part  of  the  remainder  fled,  and  a  part  fell  on  the  ground  apparently  dead,  and  were 
overlooked  by  the  Indians,  who  were  too  much  engaged  in  pursuing  the  fugitives  to  notice 
those  who  fell. 

“  When  Lieut.  Boyd  found  himself  a  prisoner,  he  solicited  an  interview  with  Brant, 
preferring,  it  seems,  to  throw  himself  upon  the  clemency  and  fidelity  of  the  savage  leader 
of  the  enemy,  rather  than  trust  to  his  civilized  colleague.  The  chief,  who  was  at  that  mo¬ 
ment  near,  immediately  presented  himself,  when  Lieut.  Boyd,  by  one  of  those  appeals  and 
tokens  which  are  known  only  by  those  who  have  been  initiated  and  instructed  in  certain 
mysteries,  and  which  never  fail  to  bring  succor  to  a  distressed  brother,  addressed  him  as  the 
only  source  from  which  he  could  expect  respite  from  cruel  punishment  or  death.  The  ap¬ 
peal  was  recognised,  and  Brant  immediately,  and  in  the  strongest  language,  assured  him 
that  his  life  should  be  spared. 

“  Boyd  and  his  fellow-prisoner  were  conducted  immediately  by  a  party  of  the  Indians  to 
the  Indian  village  called  Beardstown,  after  a  distinguished  chief  of  that  name,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Genesee  river,  and  in  what  is  now  called  Leicester.  After  their  arrival  at 
Beardstown,  Brant,  being  called  on  service  which  required  a  few  hours’  absence,  left  them 
in  the  care  of  Col.  Butler.  The  latter,  as  soon  as  Brandt  had  left  them,  commenced  an  in 
terrogation,  to  obtain  from  the  prisoners  a  statement  of  the  number,  situation,  and  intentions 
of  the  army  under  Sullivan ;  and  threatened  them,  in  case  they  hesitated  or  prevaricated 
in  their  answers,  to  deliver  them  up  immediately  to  be  massacred  by  the  Indians ;  who,  in 
Brant’s  absence,  and  with  the  encouragement  of  their  more  savage  commander,  Butler, 

18 


138 


LIVINGSTON  COUNTY. 


were  ready  to  eominit  the  greatest  cruelties.  Relying  probably  upon  the  promises  which 
Brant  had  made  them,  and  which  he  most  likely  intended  to  fulfil,  they  refused  to  give 
Butler  the  desired  information.  Upon  this  refusal,  burning  with  revenge,  Butler  hastened 
to  put  his  threat  into  execution.  He  delivered  them  to  some  of  their  most  ferocious  ene¬ 
mies,  among  which  the  Indian  chief  Little  Beard  was  distinguished  for  his  inventive  fe¬ 
rocity.  In  this,  that  was  about  to  take  place,  as  well  as  in  all  the  other  scenes  of  cruelty 
that  were  perpetrated  in  his  town,  Little  Beard  was  master  of  ceremonies.  The  stoutest 
heart  quails  under  the  apprehension  of  immediate  and  certain  torture  and  death  ;  where, 
too,  there  is  not  an  eye  that  pities,  nor  a  heart  that  feels.  The  suffering  lieutenant  was 
first  stripped  of  his  clothing,  and  then  tied  to  a  sapling,  when  the  Indians  menaced  his 
life  by  throwing  their  tomahawks  at  the  tree  directly  over  his  head,  brandishing  their 
scalping-knives  around  him  in  the  most  frightful  manner,  and  accompanying  their  cere¬ 
monies  with  terrific  shouts  of  joy.  Having  punished  him  sufficiently  in  this  way,  they 
made  a  small  opening  in  his  abdomen,  took  out  an  intestine,  which  they  tied  to  a  sapling, 
and  then  unbound  him  from  the  tree,  and  by  scourges,  drove  him  around  it  till  he  had 
drawn  out  the  whole  of  his  intestines.  He  was  then  beheaded,  and  his  head  was  stuck 
upon  a  pole  with  a  dog’s  head  just  above  it,  and  his  body  left  unburied  upon  the  ground. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  his  sufferings,  the  brave  Boyd  neither  asked  for  mercy,  nor  ut¬ 
tered  a  word  of  complaint. 

“  Thus  perished  William  Boyd,  a  young  officer  of  heroic  virtue  and  of  rising  talents  ; 
and  in  a  manner  that  will  touch  the  sympathies  of  all  who  read  the  story  of  his  death.  His 
fellow-soldier,  and  fellow-sufferer,  Parker,  was  obliged  to  witness  this  moving  and  tragical 
scene,  and  in  full  expectation  of  passing  the  same  ordeal.  According,  however,  to  our  in¬ 
formation,  in  relation  to  the  death  of  these  two  men,  which  has  been  obtained  incidentally 
from  the  Indian  account  of  it,  corroborated  by  the  discovery  of  the  two  bodies  by  the 
American  army,  Parker  was  only  beheaded. 


Western  view  of  Mount  Morris  village ,  Livingston  county. 

Mount  Morris  village,  incorporated  in  1835,  is  at  the  head  of  the 
boat  navigation  on  Genesee  river,  36  miles  S.  of  Rochester,  and  by 
the  Genesee  valley  canal  38|,  from  Geneseo  SW.  6  miles.  The  site 
is  beautiful,  being  elevated  above  the  fertile  flats  which  border  the 
river.  The  annexed  view  was  taken  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Jo¬ 
seph  Starkey.  The  three  churches  seen  in  front  are  respectively 
the  Episcopal,  Baptist,  and  Methodist ;  the  spire  on  the  left  is  that  ot 
the  Presbyterian  church.  The  hills  in  the  distance  are  on  the  op¬ 
posite  side  of  the  Genesee  flats.  The  village  contains  about  150 
dwellings. 

Dansville,  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  county,  18  miles  SE. 


LONG  ISLAND. 


139 


from  Geneseo,  45  from  Rochester,  and  231  from  Albany,  is  a  flourish¬ 
ing  village  of  upwards  of  200  dwellings,  4  churches,  a  bank,  and  an 
academy.  Within  a  circle  of  6  miles  there  are  about  60  saw-mills. 
The  Dansville  Branch  of  the  Genesee  Valley  Canal  commences  at 
this  place,  and  unites  with  the  main  canal  about  1 1  miles  distant. 
Lima  village  is  a  scattered  village  of  about  100  neat  dwellings,  and  is 
the  seat  of  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  University,  a  flourishing  institution. 
Avon,  the  seat  of  the  medicinal  springs,  about  10  miles  from  Geneseo, 
is  a  finely-situated  village  of  about  90  dwellings. 


LONG  ISLAND. 

“  Long  Island  may  be  described  as  the  southeasterly  portion  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  and  extending  from  about  40°  34'  to  41°  10'  north 
latitude,  and  from  2°  58°  to  5°  3'  east  longitude  from  Washington 
city;  being  in  length  from  Fort  Hamilton,  at  the  Narrows,  to  Mon- 
tauk  Point,  nearly  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  with  a  mean  range 
north,  80°  44'  east.  Its  breadth  from  the  Narrows,  as  far  east  as  the 
Peconic  bay,  varies  from  12  to  20  miles  in  a  distance  of  ninety  miles.” 
A  ridge  or  chain  of  hills  commences  at  New  Utrecht,  in  Kings  county, 
and  extends  with  occasional  interruptions  to  near  Oyster  Pond  Point, 
in  Suffolk  county.  The  surface  of  the  island  north  of  the  ridge  is 
in  general  rough  and  broken,  while  the  surface  south  of  the  range  is 
almost  a  perfect  plain,  with  scarce  a  stone  exceeding  in  weight  a  few 
ounces. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  island  is  the  great  South  bay,  extending 
from  Hempstead  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  Brookhaven — a  distance 
of  more  than  seventy  miles  of  uninterrupted  inland  navigation.  It 
varies  in  width  from  two  to  five  miles,  communicating  with  the  sea 
by  a  few  openings  in  the  beach,  the  principal  of  which  is  opposite 
the  town  of  Islip,  called  Five  Island  Inlet.  In  this  bay  are  very  exten¬ 
sive  tracts  of  salt  marsh,  and  islands  of  meadow  furnishing  immense 
quantities  of  grass  ;  while  its  waters  contain  great  quantities  of  shell 
and  scale  fish.  Wild-fowl  of  many  kinds  and  in  almost  countless 
numbers  are  found  here,  and  many  hundreds  of  people  are  engaged 
in  taking  them  for  the  New  York  market.  The  north  shore  of  the 
island  is  very  irregular,  and  where  not  protected  by  masses  of  rock 
and  stone,  has  been  worn  away  by  the  sea  to  a  considerable  extent. 
The  soil  on  the  north  side  generally  consists  of  loam,  on  the  south 
side  it  consists  more  of  sand,  while  through  the  middle  of  the  island  it 
consists  chiefly  of  sand  and  gravel.  The  soil  on  the  high  grounds  is 
in  most  cases  better  than  that  upon  the  plains,  yet  that  found  upon  the 
necks  or  points  on  both  sides  is  better  than  either.  The  soil  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  is  highly  productive  and  valuable,  but  in  the 
greater  part  of  the  island  it  is  naturally  light  and  poor.  Much  of  the 
land  in  the  central  part  of  the  island  is  covered  with  a  vast  pine  forest, 
in  which  wild  deer  are  still  to  be  found. 


140 


MADISON  COUNTY. 


Long  Island  was  claimed  by  the  Dutch  and  English  nations  re¬ 
spectively  by  right  of  discovery.  The  Dutch  commenced  their  set¬ 
tlements  as  early  as  1625,  at  the  west  end  of  the  island.  In  1623, 
the  Plymouth  company,  by  order  of  Charles  I.,  issued  letters  patent 
to  William  Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  for  the  whole  of  the  island. 
The  English  made  settlements  at  the  east  end  of  the  island,  but  they 
were  for  a  season  resisted  by  the  Dutch.  The  settlements,  both  at 
the  E.  and  W.  end,  were  nearly  cotemporary.  In  the  Dutch  towns, 
the  Indian  title  was  bought  by  the  governor,  and  the  lands  granted  to 
individuals  by  him  ;  in  the  English  towns  lands  were  obtained  under 
the  license  of  the  agent  of  Lord  Stirling,  and  after  his  death,  by  the 
people  of  the  several  towns  for  their  common  benefit.  The  line  of 
division  between  the  two  nations  was  a  source  of  much  contention  and 
many  complaints.  The  several  English  towns  united  themselves  with 
the  colonies  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven.  After  Connecticut  re¬ 
ceived  her  royal  charter,  in  1662,  she  exercised  jurisdiction,  and  gave 
each  of  the  towns  who  united  with  her,  permission  to  send  a  deputy 
to  the  general  court.  But  before  these  measures  could  be  fully  com¬ 
pleted,  they  were  frustrated  by  the  grant  of  Long  Island  to  the  Duke 
of  York.  Long  Island  is  divided  into  three  counties — Kings,  Queens, 
Suffolk. 


MADISON  COUNTY. 


Madison  county  was  taken  from  Chenango  county  in  1806,  and 
named  after  James  Madison,  president  of  the  United  States.  Great¬ 
est  length  N.  and  S.  33,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  32  miles.  Cen¬ 
trally  distant  from  New  York  250,  from  Albany  108  miles.  The 
surface  of  the  county  is  much  diversified.  The  middle  and  southern 
towns  are  more  or  less  uneven  and  hilly  ;  but  the  northern  is  more 
level.  In  the  northern  part  much  wheat  is  produced  :  the  southern  is 
better  adapted  to  grass.  The  county  is  generally  well  watered.  The 
route  of  the  Chenango  canal  follows  up  the  Oriskany,  and  crosses 
thence  info  the  Chenango  valley.  The  Erie  canal  runs  westerly 
through  the  northern  towns  of  Lenox  and  Sullivan.  The  county  is 
divided  into  J4  towns. 


Brookfield, 
Cazenovia, 
De  Ruyter, 
Eaton, 


Fenner, 

Georgetown, 

Hamilton, 

Lebanon, 


Lenox, 

Madison, 

Nelson, 

Smithfield, 


Stockbridge, 

Sullivan. 


Morrisville,  the  county  seat,  102  miles  from  Albany,  and  15  S.  of 
the  Erie  canal,  was  founded  in  1803,  by  Thomas  Morris  from  Con¬ 
nection;.  The  village  consists  of  about  100  d^ypljings,  the  county 
buildings,  3  churches,  and  an  academy. 


MADISON  COUNTY 


141 


Southwestern  view  of  Cazenovia. 

Cazenovia  village  was  founded  by  Col.  Linklaen,  about  1795,  and 
incorporated  in  1800. 

It  is  situated  upon  the  margin  of  Cazenovia  lake  and  its  outlet,  and 
upon  Chittenango  creek,  8  miles  S.  of  the  Erie  canal,  11  from  Mor- 
risville,  40  from  Utica,  and  113  from  Albany.  The  above  engraving 
is  a  SW.  view  of  the  village  as  seen  from  the  bridge,  at  the  outlet  of 
the  lake.  The  village  contains  upwards  of  200  dwellings,  1  Presby¬ 
terian,  1  Methodist,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Congregational  church,  a  bank, 
2  printing  offices,  and  the  “  Oneida  Conference  Seminary,”  incorpo¬ 
rated  in  1825.  This  institution  was  established  under  the  patronage 
of  the  Methodist  denomination,  and  has  ever  maintained  a  high' 
standing. 


Northern  view  of  Hamilton  village,  Madison  county. 

Hamilton  village  is  8  miles  SW.  of  Morrisville,  28  from  Utica,  and 
96  from  Albany  ;  it  contains  upwards  of  300  dwellings,  1  Baptist,  1 


142 


MADISON  COUNTY. 


Presbyterian,  and  1  Methodist  church,  and  a  newspaper  printing 
office.  The  above  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  the  village  as 
seen  from  a  point  near  the  burying- ground.  The  buildings  of  the 
“  Hamilton  Literary  and  Theological  Seminary”  are  seen  on  the  ele 
vated  ground  on  the  left.  This  institution  was  incorporated  in  1819,  and 
commenced  operations  in  1820.  The  principal  building,  which  was 
erected  in  1827,  is  of  stone,  100  by  60  feet,  4  stories,  containing  34 
rooms  for  study,  34  lodging  rooms,  a  reading  room,  library,  and  a 
large  chapel.  Another  large  stone  edifice,  100  feet  by  60,  was  erect¬ 
ed  in  1834.  There  is  a  boarding-house,  a  joiner’s  shop,  and  a  farm 
of  130  acres  belonging  to  the  society.  The  Tegular  course  of  studies 
is  six  years ;  four  in  the  collegiate,  and  two  in  the  theological  depart¬ 
ment.  This  seminary  was  established  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Baptists,  and  it  is  said  to  be  the  largest  theological  institution  of  that 
denomination  in  the  world.  “  The  institution  is  open  to  young  men 
having  the  ministry  in  view  from  every  denomination  of  evangelical 
Christians.” 

De  Ruyter  village,  17  miles  SW.  of  Morrisville,  has  about  75 
dwellings,  and  the  De  Ruyter  Institute,  a  literary  seminary,  established 
under  the  patronage  of  the  Seventh-day  Baptists.  Chittenango,  1 
mile  S.  of  the  Erie  canal,  2  from  the  railroad,  34  from  Utica,  is  a  vil¬ 
lage  of  100  dwellings,  3  churches,  a  large  woollen  factory,  and  several 
other  manufacturing  establishments.  Canastota  on  the  line  of  the 
Erie  canal  and  railroad,  has  upwards  of  100  dwellings,  3  churches, 
and  is  an  active  place  of  business. 


MONROE  COUNTY. 

Monroe  county  was  taken  from  Ontario  and  Genesee  in  1821. 
Distant  from  New  York  by  way  of  Albany  NW.  365,  and  from 
Albany  W.  219  miles.  Greatest  length  E.  and  W.  34,  greatest 
breadth  N.  and  S.  24  miles.  The  surface  is  level,  or  gently  wav¬ 
ing.  The  mountain  ridge,  a  high  terrace  of  land  nearly  parallel  with 
Lake  Ontario,  extends  across  the  county,  as  also  the  alluvial  way, 
supposed  to  have  been  formed  by  the  action  of  the  waters  of  that 
lake  at  some  former  period.  The  soil  is  generally  a  rich  mould  and 
very  productive.  “  It  is  said  that  an  analysis  of  the  Genesee  wheat, 
for  which  this  county  is  so  celebrated,  exhibits  more  saccharum  than 
that  ot  the  southern  states  ;  whilst  the  latter  combines  with  a  larger 
portion  of  water  in  the  composition  of  bread.  This  may  explain  why 
southern  flour  is  more  acceptable  to  the  baker,  and  Genesee  to  the 
consumer.  It  is  common  for  extensive  farmers  to  sow  from  50  to 
200  acres  with  wheat,  and  to  reap  an  average  crop  of  20  bushels  to 
the  acre.  The  product  is  sometimes  30,  40,  and  even  50  bushels  to 
the  acre.”  The  long  level  of  the  Erie  canal  continues  2s  miles  E. 
of  the  Genesee  river.  In  the  towns  of  Rochester,  Mendon,  and  Gates, 
there  are  sulphur  springs.  “  The  towns  of  Parma,  Ogden,  Chili,  Riga, 


MONROE  COUNTY. 


143 


Gates,  and  Greece,  E.  of  the  Triangle,  belonged  to  the  great  tract  of 
Phelps  and  Gorham,  together  with  that  portion  of  the  county  E.  of 
the  Genesee  river.  Clarkson  and  Sweden,  part  of  the  Triangle,  and 
Wheatland,  were  of  the  tract  purchased  by  Robert  Morris  from  Mas¬ 
sachusetts.  Phelps  and  Gorham  sold  out  Greece  and  Gates,  in  frac¬ 
tional  parts  to  settlers ;  and  Parma,  Ogden,  Riga,  and  Chili,  in  mass 
to  Robert  Morris.  The  lands  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  were  sold 
by  them  in  parcels,  consisting  of  whole  and  parts  of  townships.  The 
county  was  settled  chiefly  by  emigrants  from  New  England,  with  a 
few  from  Pennsylvania  and  the  lower  parts  of  New  York.”  It  con¬ 
tains  the  city  of  Rochester  and  19  towns,  viz. : 


Brighton, 

Chili, 

Clarkson, 

Gates, 

Greece, 


Henrietta, 

Irondequoit, 

Mendon, 

Ogden, 

Parma, 


Penfield, 

Perrinton, 

Pittsford, 

Riga, 

Rochester, 


Rush, 

Sweden, 

Webster, 

Wheatland. 


Rochester,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  a  rapid  and  vig¬ 
orous  growth  as  a  village  or  city  in  this  country,  is  situated  in  lat.  N. 
43°,  long.  W.  40' ;  distant  from  Albany  217  miles,  Buffalo  73,  Canan¬ 
daigua  28,  Batavia  35,  S.  from  Lake  Ontario  7,  and  361  miles  from 
Washington.  In  the  year  1810  there  was  not  a  house  where  Roch¬ 
ester  now  stands.  The  first  allotments  for  a  village  were  made  in 
1812,  when  Nathaniel  Rochester,  Charles  H.  Carroll,  and  William 
Fitzhugh,  surveyed  the  hundred-acre  tract  for  a  settlement,  under  the 
name  of  “  Rochester ,”  after  the  senior  proprietor.  This  tract  was  a 
“’mill-lot,”  bestowed  by  Phelps  and  Gorham  on  a  semi-savage  called 
Indian  Allen,  as  a  bonus  for  building  mills  to  grind  corn  and  saw 
boards  for  the  few  settlers  in  this  region  at  the  time.  The  mills  de¬ 
cayed,  as  the  business  of  the  country  was  insufficient  to  support  them, 
and  Allen  sold  the  property  to  Sir  William  Pulteney,  whose  estate 
then  included  a  large  section  of  the  “  Genesee  country.”  The  sale 
to  Rochester,  Fitzhugh,  and  Carroll,  took  place  in  1802,  at  the  rate 
of  $15.50  per  acre,  or  $1,750  for  the  lot,  with  its  “betterments.” 
Some  of  the  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Genesee  in  Rochester,  (the 
hundred-acre  tract  being  on  the  west  side,)  was  sold  by  Phelps  and 
Gorham  in  1790,  for  eighteen  pence  an  acre. 

The  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  which  produced  much  distress  in 
this  frontier  region,  impeded  the  progress  of  Rochester  to  such  a  de¬ 
gree,  that  the  population  at  the  commencement  of  1816  amounted  to 
only  331.  By  the  opening  of  the  Erie  canal,  Rochester  became  the 
great  thoroughfare  between  the  seaboard  and  the  inland  waters.  On 
the  incorporation  of  the  village  in  1817,  about  750  acres  were  includ¬ 
ed  within  its  limits.  The  city  charter,  in  1834,  extended  the  bounds 
so  as  to  embrace  upwards  of  4,000  acres.  The  staple  product  of  the 
fertile  valley  of  the  Genesee  is  wheat,  remarkable  for  its  quantity  as 
well  as  its  quality.  Its  celebrity  is  increased  by  the  skill  with  which 
it  is  prepared  for  market.  By  the  immense  water-power  formed  by 
the  fails  of  the  Genesee,  Rochester  is  the  largest  as  well  as  the  best 


MONROE  COUNTY. 


145 


stood  the  celebrated  Carthage  bridge,  remarkable  in  its  fate  as  in  its 
construction.  It  was  completed  in  February,  1819;  it  Consisted  of 
an  entire  arch,  the  chord  of  which  was  352  feet,  and  the  versed  sine 
54  feet.  Its  entire  length  was  718  feet,  and  the  width  30  ;  the  sum¬ 
mit  of  the  arch  was  196  feet  from  the  water.  “  The  most  lofty  single 
arch  at  present  in  Europe,  is  1 1 6  feet  less  in  length  than  this  was, 
and  the  arch  not  as  high  by  96  feet.”  This  daring  work  stood  but 
one  year  and  one  day ;  which  latter  period  saved  the  builders  from 
loss,  as  they  guarantied  that  the  structure  should  endure  for  one  year. 
It  contained  about  70,000  feet  of  timber,  running  measure,  besides 
64,620  feet  of  board  measure.  “  The  immense  weight  of  timber  press¬ 
ing  unequally  upon  the  arch,  threw  up  the  centre  from  its  equilibrium, 
and  the  whole  tumbled  into  ruins.”  A  port  of  entry  was  established 
at  what  is  now  known  as  the  harbor  of  Rochester,  in  1805;  when 
Samuel  Latta,  residing  at  the  junction  of  the  river  and  lake,  was  ap¬ 
pointed  the  first  collector.  The  Rochester  or  Genesee  revenue  dis¬ 
trict  has  a  frontier  of  about  70  miles  on  Lake  Ontario,  extending 
westward  from  Sodus  bay,  Wayne  county.  The  port  of  Rochester, 
at  the  Ontario  steamboat  landing,  is  situated  at  the  north  line  of  the 
city,  about  five  miles  from  the  lake.  The  largest  vessels  on  the  lake 
can  ascend  the  river  to  this  point.  There  are  three  railways  for  facili¬ 
tating  the  business  between  the  vessels  and  the  warehouses  on  the 
upper  banks,  which  are  here  about  160  feet  high. 

Brockport  village  was  incorporated  in  1829.  It  is  situated  on  the 
Erie  canal,  20  miles  NW.  from  Rochester,  and  239  from  Albany. 
The  village  consists  of  about  300  dwellings,  some  of  them  three  and 
four  stories  high,  built  of  brick  or  freestone.  The  citizens  have  erect¬ 
ed  a  noble  stone  building  five  stories  high,  for  a  collegiate  institution, 
at  an  expense  of  $25,000.  Large  quantities  of  wheat  have  been  pur¬ 
chased  in  this  village  for  the  Rochester  mills  ;  451,000  bushels  were 
bought  here  in  1835.  The  first  buildings  in  the  village  were  erected 
in  1820. 

Scottsville,  on  Allen’s  creek,  12  miles  SW.  from  Rochester,  near 
Genesee  river,  contains  several  churches,  and  upwards  of  100  dwell¬ 
ings.  The  water-power  here  has  been  lately  much  improved  by  a 
canal  one  mile  in  length,  taken  from  the  creek  to  the  Genesee  river, 
by  which  a  head  of  about  16  feet  is  obtained.  Indian  Allen,  so  called, 
was  the  first  settler  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek  which  goes  by  his 
name.  In  the  year  1800,  Isaac  Scott  located  himself  where  the  vil¬ 
lage  is  now  built.  From  this  pioneer  of  the  wilderness  the  village 
derives  its  name.  There  are  within  three  miles  of  this  place  the  re¬ 
mains  of  four  ancient  fortifications.  Trees  have  grown  on  these 
mounds  indicating  a  lapse  of  from  four  to  five  hundred  years  since 
they  were  constructed. 

Pittsford,  on  the  line  of  the  Erie  canal,  is  a  village  of  about  100 
dwellings,  6  miles  E.  from  Rochester,  and  was  incorporated  in  1827. 

19 


146 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 

.Montgomery  county  was  named  after  the  lamented  Gen.  Montgom¬ 
ery,  who  fell  at  the  attack  on  Quebec,  in  the  revolution.  Its  greatest 
length  is  34  E.  and  W.,  greatest  breadth  N.  and  S.  13  miles.  It  was 
originally  taken  from  Albany,  and  named  in  honor  of  William  Tryon, 
then  governor  of  the  province.  Its  name  was  changed  in  1784.  It 
embraced  all  that  part  of  the  state  lying  west  of  a  line  running  north 
and  south  nearly  through  the  centre  of  the  present  county  of  Schoharie. 
It  was  divided  into  five  districts — subdivided  into  precincts.  The  Mo¬ 
hawk  district  included  Fort  Hunter,  Caughnawaga,  Johnstown,  and 
Kingsboro’ ;  Canajoharie  district  embraced  the  present  town  of  that 
name,  with  all  the  country  southward,  comprehending  Cherry  Valley, 
of  Otsego,  and  Harpersfield  of  Delaware  counties  ;  Palatine  district, 
north  of  the  Mohawk,  extended  over  the  region  so  called,  and  Stone 
Arabia,  &c.  ;  German  Flats  district  and  Kingsland  covered  the  most 
western  settlements.  The  Erie  canal  crosses  the  county  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Mohawk,  and  the  Schenectady  and  Utica  railroad  on  the 
north  side.  The  Erie  canal  passes  the  Schoharie  creek  through  a 
pond  formed  by  a  dam  across  the  stream  below.  Its  fall  within  this 
county  is  86  feet*  by  12  locks.  The  county  is  divided  into  ten  towns  : 

Amsterdam,  Florida,  Minden,  St.  Johnsville. 

Canajoharie,  Glenn,  Palatine, 

Charleston,  Mohawk,  Root, 


East  view  of  the  Courthouse  and  Hotel  in  Fonda. 


The  above  is  an  engraving  of  the  courthouse  and  hotel  recently 
erected  in  the  new  village  of  Fonda.  The  railroad  passes  between 
these  two  buildings.  The  central  part  of  the  village  of  Caughnawaga 
is  about  half  a  mile  eastward  of  the  courthouse,  and  consists  of  about 
30  dwelling-houses,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk,  40  miles  from 
Albany,  and  4  miles  S.  from  Johnstown.  The  village  occupies  the  site 
ol  an  ancient  Indian  village,  one  of  the  principal  towns  of  the  Mohawk 
tribe. 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


147 


The  annexed  is  a  representation  of 
the  ancient  Dutch  church  in  Caughna- 
wara.  It  is  a  massive  stone  structure, 

Q  _  , 

and  is  believed  to  have  been  erected  in 
1763.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
inscription  on  the  stone  tablet  which 
was  formerly  placed  over  the  door : 

“  Komt  laett  ons  op  gaen  tot  den 
Bergh  des  Heeren,  to  den  huyse  des 
Godes  Jacobs,  op  dat  hy  ons  leere  van 
syne  wegen,  en  dat  wy  wandele  in 
syne  paden.” 

[“  Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain 
of  the  Lord  ;  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob, 
and  he  will  t^ach  us  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk 
in  his  paths.”] 


Ancient  Church,  Mohawk. 


Southern  view  of  Sir  Guy  Johnson's  house,  Amsterdam. 


Amsterdam  village,  incorporated  in  1830,  upon  the  Mohawk  river 
and  turnpike  and  Utica  railroad,  16  miles  W.  of  Schenectady,  contains 
4  churches,  an  academy,  a  female  seminary,  a  banking-house,  and 
many  manufacturing  establishments,  and  about  1700  inhabitants.  The 
Erie  canal  is  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  over  which  there  is  a  com¬ 
modious  bridge. 

%  O 

The  above  shows  the  appearance  of  the  mansion  house  of  Colonel 
Guy  Johnson,  as  seen  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  It  is  built 
of  stone,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Mohawk,  about  a  mile  from  Amster¬ 
dam  village.  The  western  railroad  now  passes  a  few  rods  north,  and 
in  front.  It  is  a  beautiful  situation,  and  was  formerly  called  “  Guy 
Park.”  The  house  occupied  by  Sir  John  Johnson  is  further  to  the 
west,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  These  men  lived  here  essen¬ 
tially  in  the  rank  and  splendor  of  noblemen,  till  their  possessions  were 
confiscated  by  the  state  for  their  adherence  to  the  British  cause.  Sir 
John  was  not  as  popular  as  his  father,  Sir  William  Johnson,  being  less 


148 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


social  and  less  acquainted  with  human  nature.  He  accompanied  his 
father  on  some  of  his  military  expeditions,  and  probably  saw  considera¬ 
ble  service.  After  his  flight  from  Johnstown  to  Canada,  he,  in  the 
month  of  January,  1777,  found  his  way  into  New  York,  then  in  pos¬ 
session  of  the  British  troops.  “  From  that  period  he  became  not  only 
one  of  the  most  active,  but  one  of  the  bitterest  foes  of  his  own  coun¬ 
trymen  of  any  who  were  engaged  in  the  war,  and  repeatedly  the  scourge 
of  his  own  former  neighbors.  He  was  unquestionably  a  loyalist  from 
principle,  else  he  would  scarcely  have  hazarded,  as  he  did,  and  ulti¬ 
mately  lost,  domains  larger  and  fairer  than  probably  ever  belonged  to  a 
single  proprietor  in  America,  William  Penn  only  excepted.” 

After  the  flight  of  Sir  John  from  Johnson  Hall,  [see  Fulton  co.,] 
lady  Johnson,  his  wife,  was  removed  to  Albany,  where  she  was  re¬ 
tained  as  a  kind  of  hostage  for  the  good  conduct  of  her  husband.  “She 
wrote  to  Gen.  Washington  complaining  of  this  detention,  and  asking 
his  interference  for  her  relief ;  but  the  commander-in-chief  left  the 
matter  with  Gen.  Schuyler  and  the  Albany  committee.  After  the  con¬ 
fiscation  of  the  property  of  Sir  John,  the  furniture  of  the  hall  was  sold 
at  auction  at  Fort  Hunter.  The  late  lieutenant-governor  of  New  York, 
John  Taylor,  purchased  several  articles  of  the  furniture  ;  and  among 
other  things,  the  Bible  mentioned  in  the  text.  Perceiving  that  it  con¬ 
tained  the  family  record,  which  might  be  of  great  value  to  Sir  John, 
Mr.  Taylor  wrote  a  civil  note  to  Sir  John,  offering  its  restoration. 
Some  time  afterward  a  messenger  from  the  baronet  called  for  the  Bi¬ 
ble,  whose  conduct  was  so  rude  as  to  give  offence.  ‘  I  have  come  for 
Sir  William’s  Bible,’  said  he,  ‘and  there  are  four  guineas  which  it 
cost.’  The  Bible  was  delivered,  and  the  runner  was  asked  what  mes¬ 
sage  Sir  John  had  sent.  The  reply  was,  ‘  Pay  four  guineas  and  take 
the  book  !’  ” — Stone's  Life  of  Brant. 


Eastern  view  of  Canajoharie. 

The  village  of  Canajoharie  was  incorporated  in  1829.  It  is  situa¬ 
ted  ctf  the  ponfluence  of  Bowman’s  creek  yvjth  IVJohawk,  and  on  the 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


149 


Erie  canal,  55  miles  from  Albany.  It  consists  of  about  100  houses,  a 
Lutheran  church,  and  an  academy.  The  Radii,  a  newspaper,  edited 
and  printed  by  Mr.  L.  S.  Backus,  a  deaf  and  dumb  person,  is  published 
in  this  place.  “  The  Canajoharie  and  Palatine  manufacturing  com¬ 
pany”  was  incorporated  in  1833.  The  accompanying  engraving  shows 
the  appearance  of  the  village  as  viewed  from  the  elevated  bank  of  the 
Mohawk,  a  few  rods  from  the  bridge  seen  passing  over  the  river,  con¬ 
necting  the  village  of  Palatine  Bridge  with  Canajoharie. 

In  the  spring  of  1780,  the  Indians  again  made  their  appearance  in 
the  Mohawk  valley.  Gen.  Clinton  hearing  of  their  movements,  sent 
orders  to  Col.  Gansevoort,  on  the  6th  of  June,  to  repair  to  Fort  Plank 
with  his  regiment,  to  take  charge  of  a  quantity  of  stores  destined  for 
Fort  Schuyler.  These  stores  were  to  be  transported  in  batteaux, 
and  carefully  guarded  the  whole  distance.  Joseph  Brant,  the  cele¬ 
brated  chieftain,  at  the  head  of  four  or  five  hundred  Indians,  was  in 
the  vicinity,  and  he  artfully  caused  a  rumor  to  be  circulated  that  he 
intended  to  capture  the  batteaux,  in  order  to  divert  attention  from 
other  points  of  attack.  This  artifice  proved  too  successful ;  the  mili¬ 
tia  of  the  lower  section  of  the  county  were  drawn  off  to  guard  the 
convoy.  Brant  now  made  a  circuit  through  the  woods,  and  coming  in 
the  rear  of  them,  laid  waste  the  whole  country  around  Canajoharie. 
On  the  first  approach  of  Brant  in  Canajoharie  a  few  miles  eastwardly 
of  the  fort,  the  alarm  was  given  by  a  woman,  who  fired  a  cannon  for 
that  purpose.  The  following  account  of  this  incursion  is  given  by 
Col.  Samuel  Clyde,  in  a  letter  to  Gov.  George  Clinton,  dated  at  Can¬ 
ajoharie,  Aug.  6,  1780  : — 

“  I  here  send  you  an  account  of  the  fate  of  our  district.  On  the  second  day  of  this 
instant,  Joseph  Brant,  at  the  head  of  about  four  or  five  hundred  Indians  and  tories,  broke 
in  upon  the  settlements,  and  laid  the  best  part  of  the  district  in  ashes,  and  killed  sixteen 
of  the  inhabitants  that  we  have  found  ;  took  between  fifty  and  sixty  prisoners,  mostly 
women  and  children,  twelve  of  whom  they  have  sent  back.  They  have  killed  and  drove 
away  with  them  upwards  of  three  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  horses  ;  have  burnt  fifty- 
three  dwelling-houses,  besides  some  out-houses,  and  as  many  barns,  one  verye  elegant 
church,  and  one  grist-mill,  and  two  small  forts  that  the  women  fled  out  of.  They  have 
burnt  all  the  inhabitants’  weapons  and  implements  for  husbandry,  so  that  they  are  left  in 
a  miserable  condition.  They  have  nothing  left  to  support  themselves  but  what  grain  they 
have  growing,  and  that  they  cannot  get  saved  for  want  of  tools  to  work  with,  and  very 
few  to  be  got  here. 

“  This  affair  happened  at  a  very  unfortunate  hour,  when  all  the  militia  of  the  county 
were  called  up  to  Fort  Schuyler  to  guard  nine  batteaux  about  half  laden.  It  was  said 
the  enemy  intended  to  take  them  on  their  passing  to  Fort  Schuyler.  There  was  scarce 
a  man  left  that  was  able  to  go.  It  seems  that  every  thing  conspired  for  our  destruction 
in  this  quarter  ;  one  whole  district  almost  destroyed,  and  the  best  regiment  of  militia  in 
the  county  rendered  unable  to  help  themselves  or  the  public.  This  I  refer  you  to  Gen. 
Rensselaer  for  the  truth  of.  , 

“  This  spring,  when  we  found  that  we  were  not  likely  to  get  any  assistance,  and  knew 
that  we  were  not  able  to  withstand  the  enemy,  we  were  obliged  to  work  and  build  our¬ 
selves  forts  for  our  defence,  which  we  had  nearly  completed,  and  could  have  had  our  lives 
and  effects  secure,  had  we  got  liberty  to  have  made  use  of  them.  But  that  must  not  be, 
we  must  turn  out  of  them  ;  not  that  we  have  any  thing  against  assisting  the  general  to 
open  the  communication  to  Fort  Schuyler,  but  still  doubted  what  has  happened  while  we 
were  gone.  But  it  was  still  insisted  on,  that  there  was  no  danger  when  we  were  all  out ; 
that  in  my  opinion  there  never  has  been  such  a  blunder  committed  in  the  county  since  the 
war  commenced,  nor  the  militia  so  much  put  out ;  and  to  send  generals  here  without  men, 
is  like  sending  a  man  to  the  woods  to  chop  without  an  axe.  I  am  sensible  had  the  general 


150 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


had  sufficient  men,  that  he  would  have  been  able  to  have  given  satisfaction  both  to  the 
public  and  inhabitants  here.” 

The  parents  of  Joseph  Brant,  the  celebrated  Mohawk  chieftain,  re¬ 
sided  at  the  Canajoharie  castle,  the  central  of  the  three  castles  of  the 
Mohawks,  in  their  native  valley.  He  appears  to  have  been  born  in 
the  year  1742,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  while  his  parents  were  on  a 

hunting  excursion  in  that  part  of 
the  country.*  In  July,  1761,  he 
was  sent,  by  Sir  William  John¬ 
son,  to  the  “  Moor’s  Charity 
school,”  at  Lebanon,  Connecti¬ 
cut,  established  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 

Facsimile  of  Brant's  signature.  Wheebck,  which  WaS  afterward 

removed  to  Dartmouth,  and  became  the  foundation  of  Dartmouth  Col¬ 
lege.  The  following  mention  of  him  is  made  in  the  memoirs  of  that 
gentleman  : — 

“  Sir  William  Johnson,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  in  North 
America,  was  very  friendly  to  the  design  of  Mr.  Wheelock,  and,  at 
his  request,  sent  to  the  school,  at  various  times,  several  boys  of  the 
Mohawks  to  be  instructed.  One  of  them  was  the  since  celebrated 
Joseph  Brant ;  who,  after  receiving  his  education,  was  particularly 
noticed  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  and  employed  by  him  in  public  busi¬ 
ness.  He  has  been  very  useful  in  advancing  the  civilization  of  his 
countrymen,  and  for  a  long  time  past  has  been  a  military  officer  of 
extensive  influence  among  the  Indians  in  Upper  Canada.” 

In  confirmation  of  these  statements  it  may  be  added,  that  he  trans¬ 
lated  into  the  Mohawk  language  the  gospel  of  St.  Mark,  and  assisted 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart,  the  Episcopal  missionary,  in  translating  a  num¬ 
ber  of  religious  works  into  the  Indian  tongue.  Brant  being  a  neigh¬ 
bor,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  Johnson  family,  he  took  up  arms 
against  the  Americans  in  the  revolutionary  contest.  “  Combining  the 
nature^  sagacity  of  the  Indian  with  the  skill  and  science  of  the  civil¬ 
ized  man,  he  was  a  formidable  foe.  He  was  a  dreadful  terror  to  the 
frontiers.  His  passions  were  strong.  In  his  intercourse  he  was  affa¬ 
ble  and  polite,  and  communicated  freely  relative  to  his  conduct.  He 
often  said  that  during  the  war  he  had  killed  but  one  man  in  cold  blood, 
and  that  act  he  ever  after  regretted.  He  said,  he  had  taken  a  man 
prisoner,  and  was  examining  him  ;  the  prisoner  hesitated,  and  as  he 
thought,  equivocated.  Enraged  at  what  he  considered  obstinacy,  he 
struck  him  down.  It  turned  out  that  the  man’s  apparent  obstinacy 
arose  from  a  natural  hesitancy  of  speech. 

“  In  person,  Brant  was  about  the  middling  size,  of  a  square,  stout 
build,  fitted  rather  for  enduring  hardships  than  for  quick  movements. 


*  The  Indian  name  of  Brant  was  Thayendanegea,  a  word  signifying,  it  is  said,  two- 
sticks-of -wood-bound-together,  denoting  strength.  The  life  of  Brant,  in  two  octavo  vol¬ 
umes,  has  been  recently  written  by  the  late  William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  editor  of  the  Com¬ 
mercial  Advertiser,  New  York.  This  valuable  and  highly  interesting  work  is  one  of  great 
research,  and  embraces  a  full  history  of  the  border  wars  of  the  revolution,  and  much 
other  matter  connected  with  Indian  history. 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY.. 


151 


His  complexion  was  lighter  than  that  of  most  of  the  Indians,  which 
resulted,  perhaps,  from  his  less  exposed  manner  of  living.  This  cir¬ 
cumstance,  probably,  gave  rise  to  a  statement,  which  has  been  often 
repeated,  that  he  was  of  mixed  origin.  He  was  married  in  the  winter 
of  1779  to  a  daughter  of  Col.  Croghan  by  an  Indian  woman.  The 
circumstances  of  his  marriage  are  somewhat  singular.  He  was  pres¬ 
ent  at  the  wedding  of  Miss  Moore  from  Cherry  Valley,  who  had  been 
carried  away  a  prisoner,  and  who  married  an  officer  of  the  garrison  at 
Fort  Niagara. 

“  Brant  had  lived  with  his  wife  for  some  time  previous,  according  to 
the  Indian  custom,  without  marriage  ;  but  now  insisted  that  the  mar¬ 
riage  ceremony  should  be  performed.  This  was  accordingly  done  by 
Col.  Butler,  who  was  still  considered  a  magistrate.  After  the  war 
he  removed,  with  his  nation,  to  Canada.  There  he  was  employed  in 
transacting  important  business  for  his  tribe.  He  went  out  to  England 
after  the  war,  and  was  honorably  received  there.  He  died  about  ten 
or  fifteen  years  since,  at  Brantford,  Haldiman  county,  Upper  Canada, 
where  his  family  now  reside.  One  of  his  sons,  a  very  intelligent  man, 
has  been  returned  to  the  Colonial  Assembly.” 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  taking  of  the  three  Mohawk  cas¬ 
tles,  which  were  situated  in  this  vicinity,  by  the  French  and  Indians, 
in  the  early  settlement  of  the  country.  It  is  drawn  from  Colden’s  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Six  Nations. 

In  January,  1692-3,  a  large  body  of  French  and  Indians,  amount¬ 
ing  to  six  or  seven  hundred,  started  on  an  expedition  from  Canada,  for 
the  purpose  of  punishing  the  Five  Nations,  who  had  the  previous  sum¬ 
mer  carried  the  war  into  Canada,  and  in  small  parties  had  ravaged 
the  whole  country.  Count  de  Frontenac  chose  the  winter  season 
for  this  incursion,  when  the  enemy  could  not,  without  great  hardship, 
keep  scouts  abroad  to  discover  them,  or  their  allies,  the  English,  give 
assistance. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  they  set  out  from  la  Prairie  de  Magda- 
leine,  and  endured  innumerable  hardships.  The  ground  was  at  that 
time  covered  with  a  deep  snow,  and  the  foremost,  marching  on  snow- 
shoes,  beat  a  track  for  those  which  followed.  At  night  the  army  was 
accustomed  to  divide  itself  into  small  groups,  and  each  party  to  dig 
a  hole  in  the  snow,  throwing  up  the  snow  all  around,  but  highest  to¬ 
wards  that  side  from  whence  the  wind  blew.  The  ground  was  then 
covered  with  the  small  branches  of  fir-trees,  and  each  man,  wrapped 
in  his  cloak,  with  his  feet  pointed  towards  a  fire  in  the  centre,  would 
thus  pass  the  night. 

They  passed  by  Schenectady  on  the  8th  of  February.  The  two 
first  forts  of  the  Mohawks  being  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  English 
settlements,  were  not  fortified,  and  were  therefore  easily  taken.  At 
the  last  Mohawk  fort,  which  was  strongly  garrisoned,  they  met  with 
considerable  resistance,  and  the  French  lost  thirty  men  before  the  In¬ 
dians  submitted.  The  Indians  at  Schenectady  having  obtained  infor¬ 
mation  of  the  capture  of  their  castles,  sent  to  Albany  for  assistance 


152 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


to  pursue  the  enemy.  Col.  Peter  Schuyler,  with  a  body  of  militia, 
regulars,  and  Indians,  pursued  the  enemy  on  their  retreat,  and  had  a 
severe  skirmish  with  them.  On  the  20th,  Col.  Schuyler  was  obliged 
to  give  up  the  pursuit,  the  weather  being  very  cold,  and  provisions 
scarce.  Schuyler  lost  only  8  men  killed  and  14  wounded.  The 
French  lost  59  men  in  killed  and  wounded,  besides  several  by  desertion. 

The  French  arrived  at  their  settlements  in  a  state  of  starvation, 
having  been  obliged  to  eat  their  shoes  on  their  march. 

The  village  of  Fort  Plain  is  situated  on  the  Mohawk  river  and  Erie 
canal,  15  miles  from  Fonda,  12  miles  from  Cherry  Valley,  22  from 
Cooperstown,  and  60  from  Albany  :  it  consists  of  about  80  houses,  2 
churches,  a  banking  house,  printing  office,  and  a  number  of  mills. 


Ancient  Blockhouse ,  Fort  Plain. 


The  above  is  said  to  be  a  correct  representation  of  Fort  Plain,  from 
which  the  village  derives  its  name. 

“  The  fort  was  situated  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  about  half  a  mile  northwest  of  the  vil¬ 
lage,  so  as  to  command  a  full  view  of  the  valley,  and  the  rise  of  the  ground,  for  several 
miles  in  any  direction  ;  and  hence  it  doubtless  derived  its  name,  because  its  beautiful  loca¬ 
tion  commanded  a  ‘  plain’  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  It  was  erected  by  the  gov¬ 
ernment,  as  a  fortress,  and  place  of  retreat  and  safety  for  the  inhabitants  and  families  in 
case  of  incursions  from  the  Indians,  who  were  then,  and,  indeed,  more  or  less  during  the 
whole  revolutionary  war,  infesting  the  settlements  of  this  whole  region.  Its  form  was  an 
octagon,  having  port-holes  for  heavy  ordnance  and  muskets  on  every  side.  It  contained 
three  stories  or  apartments.  The  first  story  was  thirty  feet  in  diameter  ;  the  second,  forty 
feet ;  the  third,  fifty  feet ;  the  last  two  stories  projecting  five  feet,  as  represented  by  the 
drawing  aforesaid.  It  was  constructed  throughout  of  hewn  timber  about  fifteen  inches 
square ;  and,  besides  the  port-holes  aforesaid,  the  second  and  third  stories  had  perpendicu¬ 
lar  port-holes  through  those  parts  that  projected,  so  as  to  afford  the  regulars  and  militia,  or 
settlers  garrisoned  in  the  fort,  annoying  facilities  of  defence  for  themselves,  wives,  and 
children,  in  case  of  close  assault  from  the  relentless  savage.  Whenever  scouts  came  in 
with  tidings  that  a  hostile  party  was  approaching,  a  cannon  was  fired  from  the  fort  as  a 
signal  to  flee  to  it  for  safety. 

“  In  the  early  part  of  the  war  there  was  built,  by  the  inhabitants  probably,  at  or  near 
the  site  of  the  one  above  described,  a  fortification,  of  materials  and  construction  that  ill  com¬ 
ported  with  the  use  and  purposes  for  which  it  was  intended.  This  induced  government  to 
erect  another,  (Fort  Plain,)  under  the  superintendence  of  an  experienced  French  engineer. 
As  a  piece  of  architecture,  it  was  well  wrought  and  neatly  finished,  and  surpassed  all  tho 
forts  in  that  region.  After  the  termination  of  the  revolutionary  war,  Fort  Plain  was  used 
for  some  years  as  a  deposito  of  military  stores,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  B.  Hudson 
These  stores  were  finally  ordered  by  the  United  States  government  to  be  removed  to  Al- 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


153 


bany.  The  fort  is  demolished.  Nothing  of  it  remains  except  a  circumvallation  or  trench, 
which,  although  nearly  obliterated  by  the  plough,  still  indicates  to  the  curious  traveller 
sufficient  evidence  of  a  fortification  in  days  by-gone.” — Fort  Plain  Journal,  Dec.  26, 1837. 

Hendrick,  a  celebrated  Indian  chieftain,  lived  in  this  town.  He  is 
sometimes  called  old  King  Hendrick,  and  the  great  Hendrick. 

“  '  The  site  of  his  house,’  says  Dr.  Dwight,  ‘  is  a  handsome  elevation,  commanding  a 
considerable  prospect  of  the  neighboring  country.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  observe  here, 
that  for  capacity,  bravery,  vigor  of  mind,  and  immoveable  integrity  united,  he  excelled  all 
the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  of  whom  any  knowledge  has  come  down  to 
the  present  time.  A  gentleman  of  very  respectable  character,  who  was  present  at  a  coun¬ 
cil  held  with  the  Six  Nations,  by  the  governor  of  New  York,  and  several  agents  of  distinc¬ 
tion  from  New  England,  informed  me  that  his  figure  and  countenance  were  singularly  im¬ 
pressive  and  commanding  ;  that  his  eloquence  was  of  the  same  superior  character,  and  that 
he  appeared  as  if  born  to  control  other  men,  and  possessed  an  air  of  majesty  unrivalled 
within  his  knowledge.’  In  the  French  wars  he  led  forth  his  Mohawk  warriors  and  fought 
side  by  side  with  Sir  William  Johnson.  Through  all  the  intrigues  of  the  French  he  re¬ 
mained  faithful  to  his  alliance.” 

Fultonville,  on  the  canal,  1  mile  S.  from  Fonda,  57  miles  from  Al¬ 
bany,  is  a  village  of  about  60  dwellings.  St.  Johnsville,  77  miles  from 
Albany,  on  the  line  of  the  railroad,  has  about  40  dwellings.  Stone 
Arabia,  a  small  village  3  miles  N.  of  Canajoharie,  is  the  place  where 
a  small  stockade  was  erected  during  the  revolutionary  war,  called  Fort 
Paris.  When  Sir  John  Johnson  was  ravaging  the  valley  of  the  Mo¬ 
hawk,  in  1780,  this  fort  was  in  command  of  Col.  Brown,  with  a  gar¬ 
rison  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  men.  Gen.  Van  Rensselaer,  who 
was  pursuing  Sir  John  up  the  valley,  having  received  information  that 
he  intended  to  attack  Fort  Paris  on  the  19th  of  Oct.,  despatched  or¬ 
ders  to  Col.  Brown  to  march  out  and  check  his  advance,  while  he  fell 
upon  his  rear.  Col.  Brown  accordingly  sallied  forth,  and  gave  Sir 
John  battle  near  the  site  of  a  former  work,  called  Fort  Keyser.  Van 
Rensselaer  having  failed  to  advance  at  the  appointed  time,  Brown’s 
force  was  too  feeble  to  check  the  progress  of  the  enemy.  Col.  Brown 
fell  gallantly  at  the  head  of  his  little  division,  of  which  from  forty  to 
forty-five  were  also  slain,  and  the  remainder  sought  safety  in  flight.* 

*  Colonel  Brown  was  a  brave  soldier  of  high  moral  worth.  He  was  early  in  the  service, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  disastrous  campaign  in  Canada.  Col.  Stone,  in  his  Life  of  Brant, 
states  that  Col.  Brown  detected,  or  believed  he  detected,  a  design  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Ar¬ 
nold  to  play  the  traitor  when  the  American  army  was  at  Sorel,  by  an  attempt  to  run  off 
with  the  American  flotilla  and  sell  out  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton.  During  the  winter  of  1776-7, 
while  Arnold  and  many  other  officers  were  quartered  in  Albany,  a  difficulty  arose  between 
him  and  Col.  Brown.  The  latter  published  a  handbill  severely  reflecting  on  Arnold,  and 
concluded  with  these  remarkable  words — “  Money  is  this  man's  God,  and  to  get  enough 
of  it  he  would  sacrifice  his  country This  publication  produced  quite  a  sensation  among 
the  officers.  Arnold  was  greatly  excited  ;  he  applied  a  variety  of  coarse  and  harsh  epithets 
to  Col.  Brown,  calling  him  a  scoundrel,  and  threatened  to  kick  him  wherever  he  should 
meet  him.  This  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  latter,  he  proceeded  to  the  dining  place  of  Ar¬ 
nold,  where  a  company  of  officers  were  assembled  ;  going  directly  up  to  Arnold,  he  stopped, 
and  looked  him  in  the  eye.  After  a  pause  of  a  moment,  he  observed :  “  I  understand,  sir, 
that  you  have  said  you  would  kick  me  :  I  now  present  myself  to  give  you  an  opportunity 
to  put  your  threat  into  execution  /”  Another  brief  pause  ensued.  Arnold  opened  not  his 
lips.  Brown  then  said  to  him — “  Sir,  you  are  a  dirty  scoundrel  /”  Arnold  still  remained 
silent.  Col.  Brown,  after  apologizing  to  the  gentlemen  present  for  his  intrusion,  left  the 
room.  Arnold  appears  to  have  kept  an  unbroken  silence  on  this  occasion,  which  can  only 
be  accounted  for  on  the  supposition  that  he  feared  to  provoke  inquiry  on  the  charges  of 
Col.  Brown.  A  monument  to  the  memory  of  Col.  Brown  has  recently  been  erected  by 
his  son,  at  Stone  Arabia. 


20 


154 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 

The  county  and  city  of  New  York  are  of  the  same  extent,  com¬ 
prising  the  whole  of  New  York,  or  Manhattan  Island,  about  14£  miles 
long,  varying  from  half  a  mile  to  two  miles  in  width  ;  area  21  f  square 
miles,  or  13,920  acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by  Haer- 
lem  and  East  rivers,  south  and  west  by  the  Hudson,  or  by  New  York 
bay  and  the  state  of  New  Jersey.  The  legal  subdivisions  of  the  county 
and  city  are  the  wards,  1?  in  number,  of  various  extent,  according  to 
local  convenience.  Agreeably  to  the  charter  of  New  York,  its  jurisdic¬ 
tion  extends  to  the  lands  under  the  adjoining  waters  as  far  as  to  low- 
water  mark  on  the  opposite  sides.  The  compact  part  of  the  city  is  at 
the  southern  part  of  the  island,  and  covers  about  one-sixth  part  of  its 
surface.  Its  latitude  and  longitude,  reckoned  from  the  City  Hall,  were 
determined  in  1817,  by  order  of  the  corporation,  as  follows  :  N.  lat. 
40°  42'  43"  ;  W.  long,  from  Greenwich,  England,  73°  59'  46",  and  E. 
long,  from  the  city  of  Washington  3°  1'  13". 

“  The  number  of  buildings  in  the  compact  part  of  the  city  of  New  York  is  32,116  ;  of 
which  there  are  used  as  breweries,  distilleries,  tanneries,  and  the  like,  46 ;  as  dwelling 
houses  exclusively,  16,458;  as  dwellings  with  shops,  6,614;  as  stores  and  offices  exclu¬ 
sively,  3,855  ;  as  taverns  and  private  boarding-houses,  736  ;  as  baths,  9  ;  as  factories,  with 
engines  equal  to  1100  horse-power,  74;  as  large  factories,  with  labor-saving  power,  172; 
as  private  stables,  2,603  ;  as  livery  stables,  137  ;  as  dairy  stables,  57  ;  miscellaneous,  1,355. 

“  The  valuation  of  real  estate  in  the  city,  as  corrected  by  the  board  of  supervisors  in 
1840,  is  $187,222,714;  and  of  personal  estate,  $65,013,801.  Aggregate,  $252,235,515. 

“  Urom  1810  to  1841,  the  corporation  has  expended  for  opening,  widening,  and  improv¬ 
ing  streets,  &c.,  $6,275,317. 

“  The  total  amount  derived  from  the  city,  by  the  state,  from  auction  duties,  from  1816 
to  1840,  inclusive,  is  $4,249,527. 

“  The  receipts  into  the  general  treasury  during  the  year  1840,  from  the  ordinary  reve¬ 
nues  of  the  city,  from  the  negotiation  of  its  stocks,  and  from  the  management  of  its  ‘  trust 
accounts,’  including  the  cash  on  hand  at  the  commencement  of  the  year,  amounted  to 
$6,004,610  12. 

“  The  amount  of  warrants  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer,  for  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the 
city  government,  the  payment  of  its  pre-existing  debts,  for  its  disbursements  on  the  public 
works,  and  on  its  ‘  trust  accounts,’  including  the  warrants  outstanding  at  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  the  year,  amounted  to  $6,007,260  o4 ;  from  which  is  to  be  deducted  the  warrants 
outstanding  and  unclaimed  at  the  close  of  the  year,  amounting  to  $176,829  50.  The  te- 
sult  showing  the  actual  amount  paid  by  the  Treasurer,  during  the  year,  to  be  $5,830,431 
04  ;  and  the  cash  balance  in  the  treasury  January  1st,  1841,  to  be  $174,179  08.” 


Population  of  the  several  Wards  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1845  and  1850. 


1850. 

1845. 

1850. 

1845. 

1st  ward, 

19,755 

12,230 

11th  ward, 

43,772 

27,259 

2d  ward. 

6,616 

6,962 

12th  ward, 

10,453 

13,378 

3d  ward. 

10,356 

12,900 

13th  ward, 

28,244 

22,411 

4th  ward, 

23,250 

21,000 

14th  ward, 

25,206 

21,103 

5th  ward, 

22,691 

20,263 

15th  ward, 

22,564 

19,432 

6th  ward, 

24,699 

19,343 

16th  ward. 

52,887 

40,337 

7th  ward. 

32,697 

25,502 

17th  ward, 

43,780 

27,147 

8th  ward. 

34,413 

36,846 

18th  ward, 

41 ,357 

9th  ward. 

40,675 

30,907 

19th  ward, 

18,463 

10th  ward, 

23,316 

20  993 

515,394 

371,102 

NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


155 


The  bay  of  New  York  spreads  to  the  southward,  and  is  about  8 
miles  long,  and  from  to  broad.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  harbors 
in  the  world,  generally  open  for  vessels  at  all  seasons  of  the  year, 
but  is,  at  rare  intervals,  obstructed  for  a  few  days  in  very  severe 
winters  by  ice.  The  currents  in  the  bay  are  rapid  and  strong,  cir¬ 
cumstances  that  are  of  great  importance  in  keeping  the  port  of  New 
York  open,  while  others  further  to  the  south  are  obstructed  by  frost. 
The  usual  tides  at  New  York  are  about  six  feet,  and  the  depth  of 
water  sufficient  for  the  largest  ships.  The  bay  contains  Governor’s, 
Bedlow’s,  and  Ellis’  islands,  upon  which  are  strong  fortifications 
guarding  the  approach  to  the  city.  There  are  also  fortifications  on 
Long  and  Staten  islands,  commanding  the  narrows. 


Stadt  Huys,  built  1642 — razed  1700. 


New  York  derives  its  origin  from  the  colonizing  and  commercial 
spirit  of  the  Hollanders,  and  the  general  spirit  of  adventure  which 
prevailed  among  the  maritime  nations  of  Europe  after  the  discovery 
of  the  western  continent  by  Columbus.  The  Dutch  immediately 
after  the  discovery  of  Hudson  in  1609,  began  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  advantages  which  his  discoveries  presented  to  their  view.  In 
1614  or  1615,  a  kind  of  fort  and  trading-house  was  erected  on  the 
southwest  point  of  Manhattan  or  New  York  Island,  which  was  named 
New  Amsterdam.  In  1614,  an  expedition  from  South  Virginia,  under 
Capt.  Argal,  was  sent  out  by  Sir  Thomas  Dale,  and  took  possession 
of  New  Amsterdam.  At  that  time  there  were  only  four  houses  out¬ 
side  of  the  fort.  But  an  arrangement  was  soon  after  made  with  the 
English  government,  by  which  the  Dutch  remained  in  possession  of 
Manhattan  Island,  and  of  the  trade  of  the  neighboring  country  for 
fifty  years. 

The  above  is  ‘a  representation  of  the  ancient  “  Stadt  Huys,”  or 
City  Hall,  which  was  built  early  in  the  Dutch  dynasty,  in  1642.  It 
was  built  of  stone  at  the  head  of  Coenties  slip,  facing  Pearl-street. 
About  the  year  1700,  it  became  so  weakened  and  impaired,  that  it  was 
sold,  and  a  new  one  erected  by  the  head  of  Broad-street,  which  was 
afterward  the  Congress  Hall,  on  the  comer  of  Wall-street. 


156 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


The  city  was  laid  out  in  streets,  some  of  them  crooked  enough,  in 
1656.  It  then  contained  by  enumeration  ‘  120  houses,  with  extensive 
garden  lots,’  and  1000  inhabitants.  In  1677  another  estimate  of  the 
city  was  made,  and  ascertained  to  contain'-'-;  368  houses.  In  the 
year  1674,  an  assessment  of  *  the  most  wealthy  inhabitants’  having 
been  made,  it  was  found  that  the  sum  total  of  134  estates  amounted 
to  £95,000. 


Nieuw  Amsterdam,  in  1659. 


[A,  the  fort.  B,  the  church.  C,  the  wind-mill.  D,  the  flag,  which  is  hoisted  when  vessels  arrive  in  port. 
E,  the  prison.  F,  the  house  of  the  general.  G,  the  place  of  execution.  H,  the  place  of  expose  or  pillory.] 

During  the  military  rule  of  Governor  Colve,  who  held  the  city  for 
one  year  for  the  states  of  Holland,  after  its  re-capture  from  the  British, 
every  thing  partook  of  a  military  character,  and  the  laws  still  in 
preservation  at  Albany  show  the  energy  of  a  rigorous  discipline. 
Then  the  Dutch  mayor,  at  the  head  of  the  city  militia,  held  his  daily 
parades  before  the  City  Hall,  (Stadt  Huys,)  then  at  Coenties  slip  ;  and 
every  evening  at  sunset,  he  received  from  the  principal  guard  of  the 
fort,  called  the  hoofd-wagt,  the  keys  of  the  city,  and  thereupon  pro¬ 
ceeded  with  a  guard  of  six  to  lock  the  city  gates ;  then  to  place  a 
Burger-wagt—d.  citizen-guard — as  night-watches  at  assigned  places. 
The  same  mayors  also  went  the  rounds  at  sunrise  to  open  the  gates, 
and  to  restore  the  keys  to  the  officer  of  the  fort.  All  this  was  surely 
a  toilsome  service  for  the  domestic  habits  of  the  peaceful  citizens  of 
that  day,  and  must  have  presented  an  irksome  honor  to  any  mayor 
who  loved  his  comfort  and  repose. 

“ II  ™ay  amuse  some  of  the  present  generation,  so  little  used  to  Dutch  names,  to  learn 
some  ol  the  titles  once  so  familiar  in  New  York,  and  now  so  little  understood.  Such  as— 

e  Heer  Officier,  or  Hoofd-Schout — High-Sheriff.  Be  Fiscael,  or  Procureur  Gen.— Attor 
ney  eneral.  I  Vees-Meesters — Guardians  of  orphans.  Roy-Meesters — Regulators  of 
e£ce.s-  Groot  Burgerrecht  and  Klein  Burgerrecht — The  great  and  small  citizenship, 
which  then  marked  the  two  orders  of  society.  Eyck-Meester— The  Weigh  Master.  The 
«if  1*  ,  ‘  he  riff.)  Bourgomasters  and  Schepens  then  ruled  the  city  4  as  in  all  cities  of 
New  For*  ^nd‘'  Geheim  Sfhryver — Recorder  of  secrets.”—  Watson’s  Olden  Times , 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


157 


The  preceding  cut  shows  the  principal  buildings  standing  on  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  New  York  in  1659.  The  following  de¬ 
scription  of  New  York  at  about  that  period,  is  copied  from  “  Ogilby’s 
America ,”  a  large  folio  volume  illustrated  by  engravings,  published  in 
London  in  1671.  This  work  contains  a  view  of  Novum  Amsteroda- 
mum,  (as  it  is  called,)  similar  to  the  engraving  from  which  the  annexed 
cut  is  copied. 

“  It  is  placed  upon  the  neck  of  the  Island  Manhatans  looking  towards  the  Sea ;  encom¬ 
pass’d  with  Hudson’s  River,  which  is  six  Miles  broad,  the  town  is  compact  and  oval,  with 
very  fair  streets  and  several  good  Houses  ;  the  rest  are  built  much  after  the  manner  of 
Holland,  to  the  number  of  about  four  hundred  Houses,  which  in  those  parts  are  held  con¬ 
siderable  :  Upon  one  side  of  the  Town  is  James-Fort,  capable  to  lodge  three  hundred  soul- 
diers  and  Officers ;  it  hath  four  bastions,  forty  Pieces  of  Cannon  mounted  ;  the  Walls  of 
Stone,  lined  with  a  thick  Rampart  of  Earth,  well  accommodated  with  a  spring  of  Fresh 
Water,  always  furnish’d  with  Arms  and  Ammunition  against  Accidents  :  Distant  from  the 
Sea  seven  Leagues,  it  affords  a  safe  entrance,  even  to  unskilful  Pilots ;  under  the  Town 
side,  ships  of  any  burthen  may  ride  secure  against  any  Storms ;  the  Current  of  the  River 
being  broken  by  the  interposition  of  a  small  Island,  which  lies  a  mile  distant  from  the  Town. 

“  About  ten  Miles  from  New  York  is  a  place  call’d  Hell  Gate,  which  being  a  narrow  pas¬ 
sage,  there  runneth  a  violent  Stream  both  upon  Flood  and  Ebb  ;  and  in  the  middle  lie  some 
Rocky  Islands,  which  the  Current  sets  so  violently  upon,  that  it  threatens  present  Ship- 
wrack  ;  and  upon  the  Flood  is  a  large  Whirlwind,  which  continually  sends  forth  a  hideous 
roaring  ;  enough  to  affright  any  Stranger  from  passing  farther  ;  and  to  wait  for  some  Charon 
to  conduct  him  through  ;  yet  to  those  who  are  acquainted  little  or  no  danger :  It  is  a  place 
of  great  Defence  against  any  Enemy  coming  in  that  way,  which  a  small  Fortification  would 
absolutely  prevent,  and  necessitate  them  to  come  in  at  the  West  End  of  Long  Island  by 
Sandy  Hook,  where  Statten  Island  forces  them  within  the  Command  of  the  Fort  at  New 
York,  which  is  one  of  the  best  Pieces  of  Defence  in  the  North  parts  of  America.  It  is 
built  most  of  Brick  and  Stone  and  cover’d  with  Red  and  Black  Tyle,  and  the  Land  being 
high,  it  gives  at  a  distance  a  most  pleasing  prospect  to  the  Spectators.  The  inhabitants 
consist  most  of  English  and  Dutch,  and  have  a  considerable  trade  with  Indians  for  Beaver, 
Otter  and  Rackoon  Skins  with  other  Furrs  ;  as  also  for  Bear,  Deer,  and  Elke-Skins ;  and 
are  supply’d  with  Venison  and  Fowl  in  the  winter,  and  Fish  in  the  Summer  by  the  Indians, 
which  they  buy  at  an  easie  Rate ;  and  having  the  Countrey  round  about  them,  and  are 
continually  furnish’d  with  all  such  provisions  as  are  needful  for  the  Life  of  Man,  not  onely 
by  the  English  and  Dutch  within  their  own,  but  likewise  by  the  adjacent  Colonies. 

“  The  Manhattans,  or  Great  River  being  the  chiefest,  having  with  two  wide  Mouths 
wash’d  the  mighty  Island  Watonwaks,  falls  into  the  Ocean.  The  Southern  Mouth  is  call’d 
Port  May,  or  Godyns  Bay.  In  the  middle  thereof  lies  an  Island  caffd  ‘  The  States  Island  ; 
and  a  little  higher  the  Manhattans,  so  call’d  from  the  Natives  which  on  the  East  side  of  the 
River  dwell  on  the  Main  Continent.  They  are  a  cruel  people,  and  enemies  to  the  Holland- 
ders,  as  also  of  the  Sarhians  which  reside  on  the  Western  Shore.  Farther  up  are  the 
Mackwaes  and  Mahikans  which  continually  War,  one  against  another.  In  like  manner 
all  the  Inhabitants  on  the  West  Side  of  the  River  Manhattan,  are  commonly  at  enmity 
with  those  that  possess  the  Eastern  Shore  ;  who  also  us’d  to  be  at  variance  with  the  Hol¬ 
landers,  when  as  the  other  People  at  the  Westward  kept  good  correspondency  with  them. 
On  a  small  Island  near  the  Shore  of  the  Mackwaes,  lay  formerly  a  Fort,  provided  with  two 
Drakes  and  eleven  Stone  Guns,  yet  was  at  last  deserted.” 

“  The  settlement  and  fort  continued  to  bear  the  name  of  Nieuw 
Amsterdam,  by  the  Dutch,  down  to  the  time  of  the  surrender  by 
Governor  Stuyvesant  to  the  English,  in  1664.  Then  for  ten  years 
under  the  rule  of  Cols.  Nicolls  and  Lovelace,  acting  for  the  Duke  of 
York,  it  was  called  New  York  ;  but  in  August,  1673,  a  Dutch  fleet,  in 
time  of  war,  re-captured  it  from  the  British,  and  while  exercising 
their  rule  for  their  High  Mightinesses  of  Holland,  to  the  time  of  the 
peaoe  in  1674,  they  called  the  place  New  Orange,  in  compliment  to 
the  prince  of  Orange,  and  the  fort  they  called  Willem  Hendrick. 

“  The  city  being  restored  to  the  British  by  the  treaty,  was  re-deliv- 


158 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


ered  to  the  British  in  October,  1674.  The  fort  then  took  the  name 
of  Fort  James,  being  built  of  quadrangular  form,  having  four  bastions, 
two  gates,  and  42  cannon.  The  city  again  took  the  name  of  New 
York,  once  and  forever. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  pamphlet  publication  by  J.  W. 
Moulton,  Esq.,  entitled  “  View  of  the  city  of  New  Orange  (now  New 
York)  as  it  was  in  the  year  1673.” 

“ Fort  Amsterdam,  ge.naamt  James.Fort  by  de  Engelsche.  Fort  Amsterdam,  otherwise 
called  James-Fort  by  the  English.  The  name  officially  given  to  the  fort  in  1673,  was  ‘fort 
Willem  Hendrick.’  It  was  first  erected  and  finished  in  1635,  by  Gov.  Van  Twiller,  neg. 
lected  by  Governor  Kieft,  repaired  and  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall  by  Governor  Stuyve- 
sant,  and  demolished,  and  the  ground  levelled  in  1790  and  ’91.  It  was  situated  directly 
south  of  the  Bowling  green,  on  high  ground,  was  in  shape  of  a  regular  square,  with  four 
bastions,  had  two  gates,  and  mounted  forty-two  cannon. 

“  Gereformeerde  Kerch.  The  reformed  Dutch  church  was  erected  within  the  fort,  by 
Governor  Kieft,  in  1642.  It  was  of  stone,  and  covered  with  oak  shingles,  which  exposed 
to  the  weather,  soon  resembled  slate.  The  motives  that  induced  Governor  Kieft  to  become 
the  founder  of  the  first  church  in  this  city,  may  be  best  related  in  the  words  of  captain  Da¬ 
vid  Pietersz  de  Vriez  *  artillery  meester  van ’t  noorder  Quartier,’  who  performed  three  voy¬ 
ages  to  New  Netherlands,  associated  with  Killiaen  Van  Rensalaer  and  others,  in  1630,  to 
colonize  this  region,  attempted  a  colony  at  the  Hore-Kill  on  the  Delaware,  in  the  time  of 
Van  Twiller,  and  another  on  ‘  Staaten  Eylandt,’  which  he  sustained  till  the  troubles  with 
the  Indians  in  the  latter  time  of  Kieft  drove  him  to  abandon  the  country.  De  Vriez  ob¬ 
serves  :  ‘  As  I  was  every  day  with  Commander  Kieft,  dining  generally  at  his  house  when  I 
happened  to  be  at  the  fort,  he  told  me  one  day  that  he  had  now  made  a  fine  tavern,  built 
with  stone,  for  the  English,  by  whom,  as  they  passed  continually  with  their  vessels  from 
New  England  to  Virginia,  he  had  suffered  much,  and  who  now  might  take  lodgings  there. 
I  told  him  this  was  very  good  for  travellers,  but  that  we  wanted  very  badly  for  our  people 
a  church.  It  was  a  shame  that  when  the  English  passed,  they  should  see  nothing  but  a 
mean  barn,  in  which  we  performed  our  worship ;  on  the  contrary,  the  first  thing  that  they 
in  New  England  did,  when  they  had  built  fine  dwellings,  was  to  erect  a  fine  church :  we 
ought  to  do  the  same,  it  being  supposed  that  the  West  India  Company  were  very  zealous  in 
protecting  the  Reformed  church  (Calvinist)  against  the  Spanish  tyranny,  that  we  had  good 
materials  for  it,  fine  oak  wood,  fine  building  stone,  good  lime  made  of  oyster  shells,  being 
better  than  our  lime  in  Holland.  Kieft  asked  me  then  who  would  like  to  attend  to  this 
building  ?  I  replied  the  lovers  of  the  reformed  religion,  as  certainly  some  of  them  could  be 
found.  He  told  me  that  he  supposed  I  myself  was  one  of  them,  as  I  made  the  proposition, 
and  he  supposed  I  woidd  contribute  a  hundred  guilders !  I  replied  that  I  agreed  to  do  so, 
and  that  as  he  was  GiWernor,  he  should  be  the  first.  We  then  elected  Jochem  Pietersz 
Kuyter,  who  having  a  set  of  good  hands,  would  soon  procure  good  timber,  he  being  also  a 
devout  Calvinist.  We  elected  also  Jan  Claesz  Damen,  because  he  lived  near  the  fort,  and 
thus  we  four  “  Kerk  meesters”  formed  the  first  consistory  to  superintend  the  building  of  the 
church.  The  governor  should  furnish  a  few  thousand  guilders  of  the  company’s  money, 
and  would  try  to  raise  the  remainder  by  subscription.  The  church  should  be  built  in  the 
fort,  where  it  would  be  free  from  the  depredations  of  the  Indians.  The  building  was  soon 
started  of  stone,  and  was  covered  by  English  carpenters  with  slate,  split  of  oakwood,’  (that 
is,  with  oak  shingles,  which  by  rain  and  wind  soon  became  blue,  and  resembled  slate.) 

“  The  contract  for  the  erection  of  this  church  is  upon  record.  It  was  made  in  May, 
1642,  before  the  secretary  of  the  New  Netherlands,  between  ‘  William  Kieft,  church¬ 
warden,  at  the  request  of  his  brethren,  the  church-wardens  of  the  church  in  New  Nether- 
land,  and  John  Ogden  of  Stanford,  and  Richard  Ogden,  who  contracted  to  build  the  church 
of  rock-stone,  72  feet  long,  52  broad,  and  16  feet  high  above  the  soil,  for  2,500  guilders 
(f 416  13  4)  “  in  beaver,  cash  or  merchandize,  to  wit,  if  the  church-wardens  are  satis¬ 
fied  with  the  work,  so  that,  in  their  judgment,  the  2,500  guilders  shall  have  been  earned— 
then  said  church-wardens  will  reward  them  with  one  hundred  guilders  (.£16  13  4)  more,” 
in  the  mean  time  assist  them  whenever  it  is  in  their  power,  and  allow  them  the  use,  for  a 
month  or  six  weeks,  of  the  Company’s  boat,  to  facilitate  the  carrying  of  the  stone  thither.’ 

“  The  church  was  not  completely  finished  until  the  first  year  of  Governor  Stuyvesant’s 
administration.  In  July,  1647,  he  and  two  others  were  appointed  kerk-meesters,  (church¬ 
wardens,)  to  superintend  the  work,  and  complete  it  the  ensuing  winter. 

“  The  town  bell  was  removed  to  this  church.  Besides  the  office  of  calling  the  devout  to 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


159 


meeting,  and  announcing  the  hour  of  retirement  at  night,  the  bell  was  appropriated  fo: 
various  singular  uses.  In  October,  1638,  a  female,  for  slandering  the  Rev.  E.  Bogardus, 
was  condemned  to  appear  at  fort  Amsterdam,  and  before  the  governor  and  council,  *  to 
declare  in  public,  at  the  sounding  of  the  hell ,  that  she  knew  the  minister  was  an  honest 
and  pious  man,  and  that  she  lied  falsely.’ 

“  In  1639,  all  mechanics  and  laborers  in  the  service  of  the  Company  commenced  and 
left  work  at  the  ringing  of  the  hell ,  and  for  every  neglect  forfeited  double  the  amount  of 
their  wages,  to  the  use  of  the  attorney-general. 

“  In  1647,  all  tavern  keepers  were  prohibited,  by  the  placards  of  Governor  Stuyvesant 
and  council,  from  accommodating  any  clubs,  or  selling  any  ardent  liquor,  after  the  ringing 
of  the  hell,  at  nine  o’clock  in  the  evening. 

In  1648,  two  runaways  were  summoned  into  court  by  the  ringing  of  the  hell,  to  defend 
themselves.  And  in  1677,  an  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  common  council  of  New  York, 
imposing  a  fine  of  six  shillings  on  any  members  of  the  corporation  and  jurymen,  who  should 
neglect  to  appear  in  court  at  the  third  ringing  of  the  bell.  The  bell-ringer  was  an¬ 
ciently  the  court  messenger.  In  1661,  amid  his  multifarious  official  duties,  he  was  to  ‘  as¬ 
sist  in  burying  the  dead  and  attend  to  toll  the  bell .’ 

“  The  proclamation  of  governor  Lovelace,  issued  December  10,  1672,  is  a  document  too 
curious  to  be  omitted.  It  was  in  the  following  words  : — 

“  ‘Whereas  it  is  thought  convenient  and  necessary,  in  obedience  to  his  Sacred  Majesty’s 
Commands,  who  enjoynes  all  his  subjects,  in  their  distinct  colonyes,  to  enter  into  a  strict 
Allyance  and  Correspondency  with  each  other,  as  likewise  for  the  advancement  of  Nego¬ 
tiation,  Trade  and  Civill  Commerce,  and  for  a  more  speedy  Intelligence  and  Dispatch  of 
affayres,  that  a  messenger  or  Post  bee  authorised  to  sett  forth  from  this  City  of  New-Yorke, 
monthly,  and  thence  to  travaile  to  Boston,  from  whence  within  that  month  hee  shall  re- 
turne  againe  to  this  City :  These  are  therefore  to  give  notice  to  all  persons  concerned, 
That  on  the  first  day  of  January  next  (1673)  the  messenger  appointed  shall  proceed  on  his 
Journey  to  Boston :  If  any  therefore  have  any  letters  or  small  portable  goods  to  bee  con¬ 
veyed  to  Hartford,  Connecticott,  Boston,  or  any  other  parts  in  the  Road,  they  shall  bee 
carefully  delivered  according  to  the  Directions  by  a  sworne  Messenger  and  Post,  who  is 
purposely  imployed  in  that  Aflayre ;  In  the  Interim  those  that  bee  dispos’d  to  send  Letters, 
lett  them  bring  them  to  the  Secretary's  office,  where  in  a  lockt  Box  they  shall  bee  preserv’d 
till  the  Messenger  calls  for  them.  All  persons  paying  the  Post  before  the  Bagg  bee  seald 
up.  Dated  at  New  Yorke  this  10th  day  of  December  1672.’ 

“  Stuyvesant  Huys.  Governor  Stuyvesant’s  house  or  dwelling  was  built  about  four 
years  before  he  surrendered  his  government  to  the  English.  It  fronted  the  public  wharf  and 
stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  present  Whitehall-street,  nearly  opposite  the  commencement 
of  the  present  Water-street. 

“  The  public  wharl  and  harbor  or  dock,  were  built  by.  the  burgomasters  of  the  city  about 
the  year  1658.  Here  ve-sels  loaded  and  unloaded,  and  a  wharfage  duty  was  exacted  at 
first  of  eight  stivers  per  last.  The  harbor  was  constructed  to  accommodate  vessels  and 
yachts,  in  which,  during  winter,  the  barques  stationed  there  might  be  secured  against  the 
floating  ice ;  for  which  large  vessels  paid  annually  ‘  one  beaver,  and  smaller  in  proportion, 
to  the  city,  to  keep  it  in  order.’  This  wharf  and  harbor  are  now  a,  part  of  Whitehall-street, 
Whitehall  slip  having  since  been  formed  into  the  river. 

11  De  Waegh.  The  weigh,  or  balance.  This  was  erected  in  1653,  by  Governor  Stuy¬ 
vesant,  and  the  standard  weight  and  measure  kept  in  the  balance-house,  was  according  to 
those  of  the  city  of  Amsterdam.  To  this  standard  merchants  were  obliged  to  conform,  and 
to  pay  the  eyck-meester  for  marking  their  weights  and  measures.  Goods  were  here  also 
brought  in  bulk  and  weighed,  before  they  were  stored  in  the  public  store-houses. 

“  In  front  of  the  City-Hall  were  also  the  stocks  and  whipping-post.  The  ducking-stool, 
or  rather  cucking-stool,  was  not  yet  erected,  notwithstanding  the  Lutheran  minister  in  1673 
pleaded  in  bar  to  a  public  prosecution  against  him  for  striking  a  female  that  she  *  provoked 
him  to  it  by  scolding.'  The  Dutch  had  the  credit  of  introducing  the  wooden-horse,  but  the 
cucking-stool  was  reserved  for  the  superior  ingenuity  of  the  English,  who  deriving  a  sanc¬ 
tion  for  their  want  of  gallantry  from  the  immemorial  authority  of  their  Common  Law,  or¬ 
dered  in  February,  1692,  4  at  a  meeting  of  a  grand  Committee  of  the  Common  Council,  a 
pillory,  cage  and  ducking-stool  to  be  forthwith  built.’  ” 

The  following  relation  from  Knickerbocker’s  New  York,  of  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  early  Dutch  inhabitants  of  this  city,  al¬ 
though  humorously  exaggerated,  is  by  no  means  devoid  of  historical 
truth. 


160 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


“  I  will  not  grieve  their  patience,  however,  by  describing  minutely  the  increase  and  im¬ 
provement  of  New  Amsterdam.  Their  own  imaginations  will  doubtless  present  to  them 
the  good  burghers,  like  so  many  pains-taking  and  persevering  beavers,  slowly  and  surely 
pursuing  their  labors — they  will  behold  the  prosperous  transformation  from  the  rude  log-hut 
to  the  stately  Dutch  mansion,  with  brick  front,  glazed  windows,  and  tiled  roof— from  the 
tangled  thicket  to  the  luxuriant  cabbage  garden ;  and  from  the  skulking  Indian  to  the  pon¬ 
derous  burgomaster.  In  a  word,  they  will  picture  to  themselves  the  steady,  silent,  and  un¬ 
deviating  march  to  prosperity,  incident  to  a  city  destitute  of  pride  or  ambition,  cherished  by 
a  fat  government,  and  whose  citizens  do  nothing  in  a  hurry. 

“  The  sage  council,  as  has  been  mentioned  in  a  preceding  chapter,  not  being  able  to  de¬ 
termine  upon  any  plan  for  the  building  of  their  city — the  cows,  in  a  laudable  fit  of  patriot¬ 
ism,  took  it  under  their  peculiar  charge,  and  as  they  went  to  and  from  pasture,  established 
paths  through  the  bushes,  on  each  side  of  which  the  good  folks  built  their  houses ;  which 
is  one  cause  of  the  rambling  and  picturesque  turns  and  labyrinths,  which  distinguish  certain 
streets  of  New  York  at  this  very  day. 

“  The  houses  of  the  higher  class  were  generally  constructed  of  wood,  excepting  the  gable 
end,  which  was  of  small  black  and  yellow  Dutch  bricks,  and  always  faced  on  the  street,  as 
our  ancestors,  like  their  descendants,  were  very  much  given  to  outward  show,  and  were 
noted  for  putting  the  best  leg  foremost.  The  house  was  always  furnished  with  abundance 
of  large  doors  and  small  windows  on  every  floor ;  the  date  of  its  erection  was  curiously 
designated  by  iron  figures  on  the  front,  and  on  the  top  of  the  roof  was  perched  a  fierce 
little  weathercock,  to  let  the  family  into  the  important  secret,  which  way  the  wind  blew. 
These,  like  the  weathercocks  on  the  tops  of  our  steeples,  pointed  so  many  different  ways, 
that  every  man  could  have  a  wind  to  his  mind  ; — the  most  stanch  and  loyal  citizens,  how¬ 
ever,  always  went  according  to  the  weathercock  on  the  top  of  the  governor’s  house,  which 
was  certainly  the  most  correct,  as  he  had  a  trusty  servant  employed  every  morning  to  climb 
up  and  set  it  to  the  right  quarter. 

“  In  those  good  days  of  simplicity  and  sunshine,  a  passion  for  cleanliness  was  the  leading 
principle  in  domestic  economy,  and  the  universal  test  of  an  able  housewife, — a  character 
which  formed  the  utmost  ambition  of  our  unenlightened  grandmothers.  The  front  door 
was  never  opened  except  on  marriages,  funerals,  new  year’s  days,  the  festival  of  St.  Nich¬ 
olas,  or  some  such  great  occasion.  It  was  ornamented  with  a  gorgeous  brass  knocker, 
curiously  wrought,  sometimes  in  the  device  of  a  dog,  and  sometimes  of  a  lion’s  head,  and 
was  daily  burnished  with  such  religious  zeal,  that  it  was  ofttimes  worn  out  by  the  very 
precautions  taken  for  its  preservation.  The  whole  house  was  constantly  in  a  state  of  inun¬ 
dation,  under  the  discipline  of  mops  and  brooms  and  scrubbing  brushes ;  and  the  good 
housewives  of  those  days  were  a  kind  of  amphibious  animal,  delighting  exceedingly  to  be 
dabbling  in  water — insomuch  than  an  historian  of  the  day  gravely  tells  us,  that  many  of  his 
townswomen  grew  to  have  webbed  fingers  like  unto  a  duck ;  and  some  of  them,  he  had 
little  doubt,  could  the  matter  be  examined  into  would  be  found  to  have  the  tails  of  mer¬ 
maids — but  this  I  look  upon  to  be  a  mere  sport  of  fancy,  or  what  is  worse,  a  wilful  misrep¬ 
resentation. 

“  The  grand  parlor  was  the  sanctum  sanctorum,  where  the  passion  for  cleaning  was 
indulged  without  control.  In  this  sacred  apartment  no  one  was  permitted  to  enter,  except¬ 
ing  the  mistress  and  her  confidential  maid,  who  visited  it  once  a  week,  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  it  a  thorough  cleaning,  and  putting  things  to  rights — always  taking  the  precaution  of 
leaving  their  shoes  at  the  door,  and  entering  devoutly  on  their  stocking  feet.  After  scrub¬ 
bing  the  floor,  sprinkling  it  with  fine  white  sand,  which  was  curiously  stroked  into  angles, 
and  curves,  and  rhomboids  with  a  broom — after  washing  the  windows,  rubbing  and  polish¬ 
ing  the  furniture,  and  putting  a  new  bunch  of  evergreens  in  the  fireplace — the  window 
shutters  were  again  closed  to  keep  out  the  flies,  and  the  room  carefully  locked  up  until  the 
revolution  of  time  brought  round  the  weekly  cleaning  day. 

“  As  to  the  family,  they  always  entered  in  at  the  gate,  and  most  generally  lived  in  the 
kitchen.  To  have  seen  a  numerous  household  assembled  around  the  fire,  one  would  have 
imagined  that  he  was  transported  back  to  those  happy  days  of  primeval  simplicity,  which 
float  before  our  imaginations  like  golden  visions.  The  fireplaces  were  of  a  truly  patriarchal 
magnitude,  where  the  whole  family,  old  and  young,  master  and  servant,  black  and  white, 
nay,  even  the  very  cat  and  dog,  enjoyed  a  community  of  privilege,  and  had  each  a  right  to 
a  corner.  Here  the  old  burgher  would  sit  in  perfect  silence,  puffing  his  pipe,  looking  in 
the  fire  with  half-shut  eyes,  and  thinking  of  nothing  for  hours  together ;  the  goede  vrouw 
on  the  opposite  side  would  employ  herself  diligently  in  spinning  yarn,  or  knitting  stockings. 
The  young  folks  would  crowd  around  the  hearth,  listening  with  breathless  attention  to 
some  old  crone  of  a  negro,  who  was  the  oracle  of  the  family,  and  who,  perched  like  a  raven 
in  a  corner  of  the  chimney,  would  croak  forth  for  a  long  winter  afternoon  a  string  of  in- 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


161 


credible  stories  about  New  England  witches — grisly  ghosts — horses  without  heads — and 
hairbreadth  escapes  and  bloody  encounters  among  the  Indians. 

“  In  those  happy  days  a  well-regulated  family  always  rose  with  the  dawn,  dined  at  eleven, 
and  went  to  bed  at  sundown.  Dinner  was  invariably  a  private  meal,  and  the  fat  old 
burghers  showed  incontestible  symptoms  of  disapprobation  and  uneasiness  at  being  surprised 
by  a  visit  from  a  neighbor  on  such  occasions.  But  though  our  worthy  ancestors  were  thus 
singularly  averse  to  giving  dinners,  yet  they  kept  up  the  social  bands  of  intimacy  by  occa¬ 
sional  banquetings,  called  tea  parties. 

“  These  fashionable  parties  were  generally  confined  to  the  higher  classes,  or  noblesse,  that 
is  to  say,  such  as  kept  their  own  cows,  and  drove  their  own  wagons.  The  company  com¬ 
monly  assembled  at  three  o’clock,  and  went  away  about  six,  unless  it  was  in  winter  time, 
when  the  fashionable  hours  were  a  little  earlier,  that  the  ladies  might  get  home  before  dark. 
The  tea  table  was  crowned  with  a  huge  earthen  dish,  well  stored  with  slices  of  fat  pork, 
fried  brown,  cut  up  into  morsels,  and  swimming  in  gravy.  The  company  being  seated 
around  the  genial  board,  and  each  furnished  with  a  fork,  evinced  their  dexterity  in  launch¬ 
ing  at  the  fattest  pieces  in  this  mighty  dish — in  much  the  same  manner  as  sailors  harpoon 
porpoises  at  sea,  or  our  Indians  spear  salmon  in  the  lakes.  Sometimes  the  table  was  graced 
with  immense  apple  pies,  or  saucers  full  of  preserved  peaches  and  pears  ;  but  it  was  always 
sure  to  boast  an  enormous  dish  of  balls  of  sweetened  dough,  fried  in  hog’s  fat,  and  called 
doughnuts,  or  oly  koeks — a  delicious  kind  of  cake,  at  present  scarce  known  in  this  city, 
excepting  in  genuine  Dutch  families. 

“  The  tea  was  served  out  of  a  majestic  delft  teapot,  ornamented 
with  paintings  of  fat  little  Dutch  shepherds  and  shepherdesses  tending 
pigs — with  boats  sailing  in  the  air,  and  houses  built  in  the  clouds, 
and  sundry  other  ingenious  Dutch  fantasies.  The  beaux  distinguish¬ 
ed  themselves  by  their  adroitness  in  replenishing  this  pot  from  a  huge 
copper  tea-kettle,  which  would  have  made  the  pigmy  macaronies  of 
these  degenerate  days  sweat  merely  to  look  at  it.  To  sweeten  the 
beverage,  a  lump  of  sugar  was  laid  beside  each  cup — and  the  com¬ 
pany  alternately  nibbled  and  sipped  with  great  decorum,  until  an 
improvement  was  introduced  by  a  shrewd  and  economic  old  lady, 
which  was  to  suspend  a  large  lump  directly  over  the  tea  table,  by  a 
string  from  the  ceiling,  so  that  it  could  be  swung  from  mouth  to 
mouth — an  ingenious  expedient,  which  is  still  kept  up  by  some  fami¬ 
lies  in  Albany ;  but  which  prevails  without  exception  in  Communi- 
paw,  Bergen,  Flat  Bush,  and  all  our  uncontaminated  Dutch  villages. 

“  At  these  primitive  tea  parties  the  utmost  propriety  and  dignity  of 
deportment  prevailed.  No  flirting  nor  coquetting — no  gambolling  of 
old  ladies  nor  hoyden  chattering  and  romping  of  young  ones — no 
self-satisfied  struttings  of  wealthy  gentlemen,  with  their  brains  in 
their  pockets — nor  amusing  conceits,  and  monkey  divertisements,  of 
smart  young  gentlemen,  with  no  brains  at  all.  On  the  contrary,  the 
young  ladies  seated  themselves  demurely  in  their  rush-bottomed 
chairs,  and  knit  their  own  woollen  stockings ;  nor  ever  opened  their 
lips,  excepting  to  say,  yah  Mynher,  or  yah  ya  Vrouw,  to  any  question 
that  was  asked  them  ;  behaving,  in  all  things,  like  decent,  well-edu¬ 
cated  damsels.  As  to  the  gentlemen,  each  of  them  tranquilly  smoked 
his  pipe,  and  seemed  lost  in  contemplation  of  the  blue  and  white  tiles 
with  which  the  fireplaces  were  decorated  ;  wherein  sundry  passages 
of  scripture  were  piously  portrayed — Tobit  and  his  dog  figured  to 
great  advantage ;  Haman  swung  conspicuously  on  his  gibbet,  and 
Jonah  appeared  most  manfully  bouncing  out  of  the  whale,  like  Har¬ 
lequin  through  a  barrel  of  fire. 

O  I 

J. 


162 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


“  The  parties  broke  up  without  noise  and  without  confusion.  They 
were  carried  home  by  their  own  carriages,  that  is  to  say,  by  the  ve¬ 
hicles  nature  had  provided  them,  excepting  such  of  the  wealthy  as 
could  afford  to  keep  a  wagon.  The  gentlemen  gallantly  attended 
their  fair  ones  to  their  respective  abodes,  and  took  leave  of  them  with 
a  hearty  smack  at  the  door ;  which,  as  it  was  an  established  piece  of 
etiquette,  done  in  perfect  simplicity  and  honesty  of  heart,  occasioned 
no  scandal  at  that  time,  nor  should  it  at  the  present — if  our  great 
grandfathers  approved  of  the  custom,  it  would  argue  a  great  want  of 
reverence  in  their  descendants  to  say  a  word  against  it. 

“  In  this  dulcet  period  of  my  history,  when  the  beauteous  island  of 
Manna-hatta  presented  a  scene,  the  very  counterpart  of  those  glowing 
pictures  drawn  of  the  golden  reign  of  Saturn,  there  was,  as  I  have 
before  observed,  a  happy  ignorance,  an  honest  simplicity  prevalent 
among  its  inhabitants,  which,  were  I  even  able  to  depict,  would  be  but 
little  understood  by  the  degenerate  age  for  which  I  am  doomed  to 
write.  Even  the  female  sex,  those  arch  innovators  upon  the  tranquil¬ 
lity,  the  honesty,  and  greybeard  customs  of  society,  seemed  for  a 
while  to  conduct  themselves  with  incredible  sobriety  and  comeliness. 

“  Their  hair,  untortured  by  the  abominations  of  art,  was  scrupu¬ 
lously  pomatomed  back  from  their  foreheads  with  a  candle,  and  cov¬ 
ered  with  a  little  cap  of  quilted  calico,  which  fitted  exactly  to  their 
heads.  Their  petticoats  of  linsey  woolsey  were  striped  with  a  va¬ 
riety  of  gorgeous  dyes — though  I  must  confess  these  gallant  garments 
were  rather  short,  scarce  reaching  below  the  knee ;  but  then  they 
made  up  in  the  number,  which  generally  equalled  that  of  the  gentle¬ 
men’s  small-clothes ;  and  what  is  still  more  praiseworthy,  they  were 
all  of  their  own  manufacture — of  which  circumstance,  as  may  well 
be  supposed,  they  were  not  a  little  vain. 

“  These  were  the  honest  days,  in  which  every  woman  staid  at  home, 
read  the  Bible,  and  wore  pockets — ay,  and  that  too  of  a  goodly  size, 
fashioned  with  patch-work  into  many  curious  devices,  and  ostenta¬ 
tiously  worn  on  the  outside.  These,  in  fact,  were  convenient  recep¬ 
tacles,  where  all  good  housewives  carefully  stored  away  such  things 
as  they  wished  to  have  at  hand ;  by  which  means  they  often  came 
to  be  incredibly  crammed — and  I  remember  there  was  a  story  cur¬ 
rent  when  I  was  a  boy,  that  the  lady  of  Wo'uter  Van  T wilier  once 
had  occasion  to  empty  her  right  pocket  in  search  of  a  wooden  ladle, 
and  the  utensil  was  discovered  lying  among  some  rubbish  in  one  cor¬ 
ner — but  we  must  not  give  too  much  faith  to  all  these  stories ;  the 
anecdotes  of  those  remote  periods  being  very  subject  to  exaggera¬ 
tion. 

“  Besides  these  notable  pockets,  they  likewise  wore  scissors  and 
pincushions  suspended  from  their  girdles  by  red  ribands,  or  among 
the  more  opulent  and  showy  classes,  by  brass,  and  even  silver  chains 
— indubitable  tokens  of  thrifty  housewives  and  industrious  spinsters. 
I  cannot  say  much  in  vindication  of  the  shortness  of  the  petticoats ; 
it  doubtless  was  introduced  for  the  purpose  of  giving  the  stockings  a 
chance  to  be  seen,  which  were  generally  of  blue  worsted  with  mag- 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


163 


nificent  red  clocks — or  perhaps  to  display  a  well-turned  ankle,  and 
a  neat,  though  serviceable,  foot,  set  off  by  a  high-heeled  leathern 
shoe,  with  a  large  and  splendid  silver  buckle.  Thus  we  find  that 
the  gentle  sex  in  all  ages  have  shown  the  same  disposition  to  infringe 
a  little  upon  the  laws  of  decorum,  in  order  to  betray  a  lurking  beauty, 
or  gratify  an  innocent  love  of  finery. 

“  From  the  sketch  here  given,  it  will  be  seen  that  our  good  grandmothers  differed  consid. 
erably  in  their  ideas  of  a  fine  figure  from  their  scantily  dressed  descendants  of  the  present 
day.  A  fine  lady,  in  those  times,  waddled  under  more  clothes,  even  on  a  fair  summer’s 
day,  than  would  have  clad  the  whole  bevy  of  a  modern  ball-room.  Nor  were  they  the  less 
admired  by  the  gentlemen  in  consequence  thereof.  On  the  contrary,  the  greatness  of  a 
lover’s  passion  seemed  to  increase  in  proportion  to  the  magnitude  of  its  object — and  a  vo¬ 
luminous  damsel,  arrayed  in  a  dozen  of  petticoats,  was  declared  by  a  Low  Dutch  sonnetteer 
of  the  province  to  be  radiant  as  a  sunflower,  and  luxuriant  as  a  full  blown  cabbage.  Cer¬ 
tain  it  is,  that  in  those  days,  the  heart  of  a  lover  could  not  contain  more  than  one  lady  at  a 
time  ;  whereas  the  heart  of  a  modem  gallant  has  often  room  enough  to  accommodate  half 
a  dozen.  The  reason  of  which  I  conclude  to  be,  that  either  the  hearts  of  the  gentlemen 
have  grown  larger,  or  the  persons  of  the  ladies  smaller — this,  however,  is  a  question  for 
physiologists  to  determine. 

“  But  there  was  a  secret  charm  in  these  petticoats,  which  no  doubt  entered  into  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  prudent  gallants.  The  wardrobe  of  a  lady  was  in  those  days  her  only  for¬ 
tune  ;  and  she  who  had  a  good  stock  of  petticoats  and  stockings,  was  as  absolutely  an 
heiress  as  is  a  Karnschatka  damsel  with  a  store  of  bear  skins,  or  a  Lapland  belle  with  a 
plenty  of  reindeer.  The  ladies,  therefore,  were  very  anxious  to  display  these  powerful 
attractions  to  the  greatest  advantage ;  and  the  best  rooms  in  the  house,  instead  of  being 
adorned  with  caricatures  of  dame  nature,  in  water  colors  and  needle-work,  were  always 
hung  round  with  abundance  of  homespun  garments,  the  manufacture  and  the  property  of 
the  females — a  piece  of  laudable  ostentation  that  still  prevails  among  the  heiresses  of  our 
Dutch  villages. 

“  The  gentlemen,  in  fact,  who  figured  in  the  circles  of  the  gay  world  in  these  ancient 
times,  corresponded,  in  most  particulars,  with  the  beauteous  damsels  whose  smiles  they 
were  ambitious  to  deserve.  True  it  is,  their  merits  would  make  but  a  very  inconsiderable 
impression  upon  the  heart  of  a  modern  fair ;  they  neither  drove  their  curricles  nor  sported 
their  tandems,  for  as  yet  those  gaudy  vehicles  were  not  even  dreamt  of — neither  did  they 
distinguish  themselves  by  their  brilliancy  at  the  table,  and  their  consequent  rencontres  with 
watchmen,  for  our  forefathers  were  of  too  pacific  a  disposition  to  need  those  guardians  of 
the  night,  every  soul  throughout  the  town  being  sound  asleep  before  nine  o’clock.  Neither 
did  they  establish  their  claims  to  gentility  at  the  expense  of  their  tailors — for  as  yet  those 
offenders  against  the  pockets  of  society,  and  the  tranquillity  of  all  aspiring  young  gentle¬ 
men,  were  unknown  in  New  Amsterdam ;  every  good  housewife  made  the  clothes  of  her 
husband  and  family,  and  even  the  goede  vrouw  of  Van  Twiller  himself  thought  it  no  dis¬ 
paragement  to  cut  out  her  husband’s  linsey  woolsey  galligaskins. 

“Not  but  what  there  were  some  two  or  three  youngsters  who  manifested  the  first  dawn- 
ings  of  what  is  called  fire  and  spirit.  Who  held  all  labor  in  contempt ;  skulked  about  docks 
and  market  places  ;  loitered  in  the  sunshine  ;  squandered  what  little  money  they  could  pro¬ 
cure  at  hustle-cap  and  chuck-farthing,  swore,  boxed,  fought  cocks,  and  raced  their  neigh¬ 
bor’s  horses — in  short,  who  promised  to  be  the  wonder,  the  talk,  and  abomination  of  the 
town,  had  not  their  stylish  career  been  unfortunately  cut  short  by  an  affair  of  honor  with  a 
whipping-post. 

“  Far  other,  however,  was  the  truly  fashionable  gentleman  of  those  days — his  dress, 
which  served  for  both  morning  and  evening,  street  and  drawing-room,  was  a  linsey  wool¬ 
sey  coat,  made,  perhaps,  by  the  fair  hands  of  the  mistress  of  hjs  affections,  and  gallantly 
bedecked  with  abundance  of  large  brass  buttons. — Half  a  score  of  breeches  heightened  the 
proportions  of  his  figure — his  shoes  were  decorated  by  enormous  copper  buckles — a  low- 
cr.owned  broad-brimmed  hat  overshadowed  his  burly  visage,  and  his  hair  dangled  down 
his  back  in  a  prodigious  queue  of  eel  skin. 

“  Thus  equipped,  he  would  manfully  sally  forth  with  pipe  in  mouth  to  besiege  some  fair 
damsel’s  obdurate  heart — not  such  a  pipe,  good  reader,  as  that  which  Acis  did  sweetly  tune 
in  praise  of  his  Galatea,  but  of  one  of  true  delft  manufacture,  and  furnished  with  a  charge 
of  fragrant  tobacco.  With  this  would  he  resolutely  set  himself  down  before  the  fortress, 
and  rarely  failed,  in  the  process  of  time,  to  smoke  the  fair  enemy  into  a  surrender,  upon 
honorable  terms. 


164 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


“  Such  was  the  happy  reign  of  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  celebrated  in  many  a  long.forgotten 
song  as  the  real  golden  age,  the  rest  being  nothing  but  counterfeit  copper-washed  coin.  In 
that  delightful  period,  a  sweet  and  holy  calm  reigned  over  the  whole  province.  The  bur¬ 
gomaster  smoked  his  pipe  in  peace — the  substantial  solace  of  his  domestic  cares,  after  her 
daily  toils  were  done,  sat  soberly  at  the  door,  with  her  arms  crossed  over  her  apron  of 
snowy  white,  without  being  insulted  by  ribald  street  walkers  or  vagabond  boys — those 
unlucky  urchins,  who  do  so  infest  our  streets,  displaying  under  the  roses  of  youth  the 
thorns  and  briers  of  iniquity.  Then  it  was  that  the  lover  with  ten  breeches,  and  the  dam¬ 
sel  with  petticoats  of  half  a  score,  indulged  in  all  the  innocent  endearments  of  virtuous  love 
without  fear  and  without  reproach  ;  for  what  had  that  virtue  to  fear,  which  was  defended 
by  a  shield  of  good  linsey  woolseys,  equal  at  least  to  the  seven  bull  hides  of  the  invincible 
Ajax. 

“  Ah,  blissful,  and  never  to  be  forgotten  age  !  when  every  thing  was  better  than  it  has 
ever  been  since,  or  ever  will  be  again — when  Buttermilk  Channel*  was  quite  dry  at  low 
water — when  the  shad  in  the  Hudson  were  all  salmon,  and  when  the  moon  shone  with  a 
pure  and  resplendent  whiteness,  instead  of  that  melancholy  yellow  light  which  is  the  conse¬ 
quence  of  her  sickening  at  the  abominations  she  every  night  witnesses  in  this  degenerate 
city ! 

“  Happy  would  it  have  been  for  New  Amsterdam  could  it  always  have  existed  in  this 
state  of  blissful  ignorance  and  lowly  simplicity ;  but  alas !  the  days  of  childhood  are  too 
sweet  to  last !  Cities,  like  men,  grow  out  of  them  in  time,  and  are  doomed  alike  to  grow 
into  the  bustle,  the  cares,  and  miseries  of  the  world.  Let  no  man  congratulate  himself, 
when  he  beholds  the  child  of  his  bosom  or  the  city  of  his  birth  increasing  in  magnitude  and 
importance — let  the  history  of  his  own  life  teach  him  the  dangers  of  the  one,  and  this  ex¬ 
cellent  little  history  of  Mannahatta  convince  him  of  the  calamities  of  the  other.” 


THE  NEGRO  PLOT. 

The  celebrated  Negro  Plot,  1741,  occurred  when  there  were  about  ten  thousand  inhabi¬ 
tants  in  this  city,  of  which  one  sixth  part  were  negro  slaves. 

“  After  a  lapse  of  a  century,  we  look  back  with  astonishment  on  the  panic  occasioned  by 
the  Negro  Plot,  and  the  rancorous  hatred  that  prevailed  here  against  the  Roman  Catholics. 
To  judge  from  tradition,  and  the  journal  of  the  proceedings  against  the  conspirators,  no 
doubt  can  be  had  of  the  actual  existence  of  a  plot ;  but  its  extent  could  never  have  been  so 
great  as  the  terror  of  those  times  depicted.  The  very  mode  adopted  to  discover  abettors 
by  mutual  criminations  and  confessions,  tended  in  the  progress  of  the  trials  to  inculpate 
every  negro  slave  in  the  city.  We  accordingly  find,  that  the  number  of  conspirators  daily 
increased.  As  it  was  impossible  to  prove  all  equally  guilty,  the  ringleaders  only  were  ex¬ 
ecuted  ;  and  those  who,  to  save  their  lives,  plead  guilty,  and  threw  themselves  on  the  mercy 
of  the  court,  were  transported. 

“  Insurrections  and  conspiracies  were  at  this  juncture  frequent  in  the  West  India  islands, 
and  great  apprehensions  were  entertained  of  an  invasion  by  the  French  and  Spaniards. 
These  circumstances  aggravated  the  horror  of  a  domestic  plot  to  such  a  degree,  that  the 
white  inhabitants,  regarding  every  negro  slave  as  an  incendiary  and  an  assassin,  carried 
their  apprehensions  and  resentment  beyond  all  bounds. 

“  A  holy  hatred  of  the  Roman  Catholics  was  at  that  period  inculcated  by  church  and 
state.  Our  Dutch  forefathers,  glowing  with  all  the  zeal  of  the  early  reformers,  emigrated 
to  this  country  shortly  after  the  emancipation  of  the  United  Netherlands  from  the  Spanish 
yoke,  and  fostered  all  the  rancor  of  their  race  against  Papists  and  Spaniards.  It  was  the 
policy  of  the  English  government,  after  the  conquest,  to  cherish  this  animosity,  and  those 
of  our  readers  who  were  born  and  educated  before  the  American  revolution,  will  recollect 
how  religiously  they  were  taught  to  abhor  the  Pope,  Devil,  and  Pretender.  The  act  of  our 
Provincial  Assembly,  against  Jesuits  and  Papist  priests,  passed  2d  William  and  Mary,  and 
which  continued  in  full  force  until  our  independence,  was  owing,  not  only  to  these  preju¬ 
dices,  but  to  the  exposed  situation  of  the  colony,  the  northern  frontier  of  which  was  bounded 
by  Canada,  at  that  time  in  possession  of  France,  the  natural  and  ever-daring  enemy  to  Eng¬ 
land.  The  intolerant  spirit  of  this  act  shows  the  horror  and  detestation  in  which  the  Roman 
Catholics  were  held,  and  will  account  why  so  few  of  this  profession  existed  in  this  city  and 
colony  before  the  revolution. 


^  *  In  olden  times  the  channel  was  but  a  little  preek  which  separated  the  mainland  from 
Governors  Island. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


1G5 


“  In  estimating  this  singular  event  in  our  colonial  history,  the  circumstances  of  the  times 
should  be  duly  considered,  before  we  too  hastily  condemn  the  bigotry  and  cruelty  of  our 
predecessors.  The  advantages  of  a  liberal,  indeed  of  the  plainest  education,  was  the  happy 
lot  of  very  few.  Intercourse  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  and  between 
province  and  province,  was  very  rare.  Ignorance  and  illiberal  prejudices  universally  pre¬ 
vailed.  Their  more  favored  and  enlightened  posterity  will  therefore  draw  a  veil  of  filial 
affection  over  the  involuntary  errors  of  their  forefathers,  and  emulating  their  simple  virtues, 
endeavor  to  transmit  a  brighter  example  to  their  successors.” — Hist,  of  Negro  Plot,  8vo. 
New  York,  1810. 

“  The  first  suspicion  of  a  plot  among  the  negroes,  and  which  subsequently  led  to  a  full 
investigation  and  discovery,  was  caused  by  frequent  alarms  of  fire,  and  a  robbery  committed 
at  a  Mr.  Hogg’s,  1  from  whence  were  taken  divers  pieces  of  linen,  and  other  goods,  and 
several  silver  coins,  chiefly  Spanish,  and  medals,  and  wrought  silver,  &c.,  to  the  value,  in 
the  whole,  of  sixty  pounds  and  upwards.’  The  scene  of  this  famous  robbery  was  in  a  house 
in  Broad  street.  On  Wednesday,  the  18th  March,  1740,  about  1  o’clock,  a  fire  broke  out 
of  the  roof  of  His  Majesty’s  house,  at  Fort  George,  within  this  city,  near  the  chapel,  on  the 
east  side,  and  the  wind  blowing  a  violent  gale  at  southeast,  it  soon  became  impossible  to  stop 
its  progress.  The  citizens  and  engines  assembled  promptly  on  the  ringing  of  the  chapel 
bell,  and  assisted  in  saving  the  records  and  papers  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
over  the  fort  gate,  which  fortunately  were  preserved,  although  in  the  hurry  they  were  tossed 
out  at  the  windows,  and  the  papers  blown  and  scattered.  An  alarm  being  given,  the  peo¬ 
ple  were  soon  after  fearful  of  an  explosion,  and  stood  aloof,  although  assured  by  the  Gov¬ 
ernor  that  it  was  groundless.  In  one  hour  and  a  quarter,  the  Governor’s  house,  and  the 
venerable  old  Dutch  Church,  were  thus  consumed.  A  plumber  had  that  morning  been  at 
work,  with  his  pot  of  coals  and  soldering  iron,  to  mend  a  leak  in  the  gutter,  between  the 
house  and  the  chapel,  and  the  high  wind  had  no  doubt  blown  some  sparks  on  the  dry  shin¬ 
gles,  or  under  the  eaves.  On  the  25th  of  March,  a  week  after  the  fire  at  the  fort,  another 
broke  out  at  the  southwest  end  of  the  town,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  another  at  the  east 
end  of  the  town,  at  Van  Zandt’s,  corner  of  Burling’s  slip  and  Water-street.  On  the  4th  of 
April,  two  other  alarms  were  made,  and  fire  discovered ;  and  on  the  5th,  being  Sunday, 
Mr.  Murray’s  haystack,  standing  near  some  stables  and  houses  in  Broadway,  had  some  live 
coals  put  under  it,  which  went  out  of  themselves.  On  Monday,  three  more  fires  occurred, 
and  the  panic  commenced.  Many  negroes  were  arrested,  and  the  investigations  were  long 
and  intricate.  By  the  course  of  the  evidence,  it  appeared  that  the  city  was  destined  to  be 
fired,  and  the  inhabitants  massacred  on  coming  out  of  the  English  Church  in  Broadway. 

“  St.  Patrick’s  night  was  selected  to  begin  the  bloody  scene,  and  many  Irish  Catholics, 
lately  arrived,  enlisted  in  the  gang,  were  even  detected  as  being  concerned.  The  negroes 
were  led  on  by  a  villian  named  Hughson,  at  whose  house  they  were  freely  entertained, 
and  brought  their  stolen  goods,  and  were  sworn  to  secrecy.  Ury,  a  priest,  was  also  deeply 
concerned. 

“  It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  London  has  had  its  Popish  Plot  and  fire  ;  Boston  and 
Salem  its  delusions  of  witchcraft,  and  New  York  its  Negro  Plot:  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  some  innocent  persons  were  at  those  times  accused,  and  suffered. 

“  One  hundred  and  fifty-four  negroes,  and  twenty  white  persons,  were  committed  to  pri¬ 
son,  of  which  fifty-five  were  convicted,  and  seventy-eight  confessed.  Thirteen  negroes 
were  burnt  at  the  stake,  at  a  place  then  out  of  town,  but  situated  near  the  present  in¬ 
tersection  of  Pearl  and  Chatham  streets,  where  there  formerly  was  a  hollow  place,  as  recol¬ 
lected  by  one  of  our  oldest  citizens,  who  was  present  at  the  execution,  and  declares  that 
the  horrible  shrieks  and  cries  of  the  miserable  victims  still  dwell  on  his  memory.  Twenty 
were  hung,  (one  in  chains,  ‘  on  the  island,  by  the  powder-house,’  where  the  Arsenal  now 
is,  in  Elm  street.)  Seventy  were  transported  to  foreign  parts,  viz.  Newfoundland,  Madeira, 
Hispaniola,  Cape  Franqois,  Curra5oa,  Surinam,  &e.,  &.C.,  and  fifty  were  discharged. 

“  Although  the  black  population  has  increased  from  that  period  to  the  present,  in  tins 
city,  yet  the  proportion  they  now  bear  to  the  whites  is  much  less  than  at  that  time,  being 
only  one-twelfth  part ;  then  they  were  one-sixth.” 

The  following  extracts  are  from  newspapers  published  previous  to 
and  during  the  revolution :  they  will  serve  to  throw  light  on  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  times. 

“  New  York,  November  4,  1765. — The  late  extraordinary  and  unprecedented  prepara¬ 
tions  in  Fort  George,  and  the  securing  of  the  Stamped  Paper  in  that  garrison,  having  greatly 
alarmed  and  displeased  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  a  vast  number  of  them  assembled  last 
Friday  evening  in  the  commons,  from  whence  they  marched  down  the  Fly,  preceded  by  a 


166 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


number  of  lights,  and  having  stopped  a  few  minutes  at  the  Coffee  House,  proceeded  to  the 

Fort  Walls,  where  they  broke  open  the  stable  of  the  L — t  G - r,  took  out  his  coach,  and 

after  carrying  the  same  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  city,  in  triumph  marched  to  the 
commons,  where  a  gallows  was  erected  ;  on  one  end  of  which  was  suspended  the  effigy  of 
the  person  whose  property  the  coach  was.  In  his  right  hand  he  held  a  stamped  Bill  of 
Lading,  and  on  his  breast  was  affixed  a  paper  with  the  following  inscription,  ‘  The  Rebel 
Drummer  in  the  year  1715  at  his  back  was  affixed  a  drum,  the  badge  of  his  profession  ; 
at  the  other  end  of  the  gallows  hung  the  figure  of  the  devil,  a  proper  companion  for  the 
other,  as  ’tis  supposed  it  was  entirely  at  his  instigation  he  acted :  after  they  had  hung  there 
a  considerable  time,  they  carried  the  effigies,  with  the  gallows  entire,  being  preceded  by 
the  coach,  in  a  grand  procession  to  the  gate  of  the  fort,  where  it  remained  for  some  time, 
from  whence  it  was  removed  to  the  Bowling  Green,  under  the  muzzles  of  the  fort  guns, 
where  a  bon-fire  was  immediately  made,  and  the  drummer ,  devil ,  and  coach,  &c.,  were 
consumed  amidst  the  acclamations  of  some  thousand  spectators,  and  we  make  no  doubt, 
but  the  L — t  G - r,  and  his  friends,  had  the  mortification  of  viewing  the  whole  proceed¬ 

ing  from  the  ramparts  of  the  fort :  But  the  business  of  the  night  not  being  yet  concluded, 
the  whole  body  proceeded  with  the  greatest  decency  and  good  order  to  Vauxhall,  the  house 

of  M — r  J - s,  who,  it  was  reported,  was  a  friend  to  the  Stamp  Act,  and  had  been  over 

officious  in  his  duty,  from  whence  they  took  every  individual  article  to  a  very  considerable 
amount ;  and  having  made  another  bon-fire,  the  whole  was  consumed  in  the  flames,  to  the 
great  satisfaction  of  every  person  present ;  after  which  they  dispersed,  and  every  man  went 
to  his  respective  habitation.  The  whole  affair  was  conducted  with  such  decorum,  that  not 
the  least  accident  happened. 

“  The  next  evening  another  very  considerable  body  assembled  at  the  same  place,  having 

been  informed  that  the  L — t  G - r  had  qualified  himself  for  the  distribution  of  the  Stamped 

paper,  were  determined  to  march  to  the  fort,  in  order  to  insist  upon  his  delivering  into  their 
hands,  or  to  declare  that  he  would  not  undertake  to  distribute  the  same ;  but  before  this 

resolution  could  be  executed,  the  minds  of  the  people  were  eased  by  the  L — t  G - r’s 

sending  the  following  declaration  from  the  fort,  viz  : — - 

“irpHE  Lieut.  Governor  declares  he  will  do  nothing  in  Relation  to  the  Stamps,  but  leave 

JL  it  to  Sir  Henry  Moore,  to  do  as  he  pleases  on  his  arrival.  Council  Chamber,  New 
York,  Nov.  2,  1765.  By  Order  of  His  Honor.  Ww.  Banyar  D.  Cl.  Con. 

“‘We  can  assure  the  Gentlemen  of  the  neighboring  Provinces,  That  every  Importer  of 
European  Goods  in  this  City,  have  agreed  not  to  Import  any  Goods  from  England  next 
Spring,  unless  the  Sugar  Act,  and  the  Oppressive  and  Unconstitutional  Stamp  Act  are 
repealed.’  ” 


“  New  York,  Jan.  8th,  1763. — Thursday  next  is  appointed  to  celebrate  the  birth  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  when  there  is  to  be  a  treble  discharge  of  all  the  artillery  in  this  place,  and 
the  evening  is  to  be  concluded  with  the  play  of  the  Fair  Penitent,  by  the  officers  of  the 
army,  in  a  theatre  built  for  that  purpose.” 


“  New  York,  Dec.  13,1765. — We  are  credibly  informed  that  there  were  married  last 
Sunday  evening,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Auchmuty,  a  very  respectable  couple,  that  had  been  pub¬ 
lished  at  three  different  times  in  Trinity  church.  A  laudable  example  and  worthy  to  be 
followed.  If  this  decent,  and  for  many  reasons,  proper  method  of  publication  was  once 
generally  to  take  place,  we  should  hear  no  more  of  clandestine  marriages,  and  save  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  licenses,  no  inconsiderable  sum  these  hard  and  distressing  times.” 


“  New  York,  March  13th,  1766. — Upon  a  supposition  that  the  cannon  upon  the  Battery 
in  this  city  were  spiked  by  order  of  Lieutenant-governor  Colden,  his  effigy  was  exhibited 
last  Thursday,  sitting  upon  a  piece  of  ordnance,  properly  mounted  with  a  drill  constructed 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  continually  working ;  at  his  back  hung  a  drum  as  a  badge  of  his 
former  profession :  On  his  breast  was  fixed  a  paper  on  which  were  the  following  lines : 

‘  Pm  deceived  by  the  devil  and  left  in  the  lurch ; 

And  am  forced  to  do  penance,  tho’  not  in  the  church.’ 

After  it  had  appeared  in  the  principal  streets  of  the  city  attended  by  many  thousand 
spectators,  (although  it  rained  great  part  of  the  time,)  it  was  carried  to  the  common,  where 
a  hre  was  immediately  made,  and  the  whole  consumed  by  5  o’clock  in  the  afternoon, 

amidst  the  acclamations  of  the  multitude,  who  dispersed  directly  thereafter . The 

affair  was  conducted  with  such  order  and  decorum,  that  no  person  sustained  the  least 
damage. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


167 


“  N.  B.  The  public  are  desired  to  take  notice,  that  the  cannon  still  remain  spiked ;  and 
it  is  expected  that  no  further  hint  will  be  necessary.” 


“  New  York,  May  3,  1766. — The  play  advertised  to  be  acted  last  Monday  evening, 
having  given  offence  to  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  who  thought  it  highly  improper 
that  such  entertainments  should  be  exhibited  at  this  time  of  public  distress,  when  great 
numbers  of  poor  people  can  scarce  find  means  of  subsistence,  whereby  many  persons  might 
be  tempted  to  neglect  their  business,  and  squander  that  money  which  is  necessary  to  the 
payment  of  their  debts  and  support  of  their  families,  a  rumour  was  spread  about  the  town 
on  Monday,  that  if  the  play  went  on,  the  audience  would  meet  with  some  disturbance  from 
the  multitude.  This  prevented  the  greatest  part  of  those  who  intended  to  have  been  there 
from  going  ;  however,  many  people  came  and  the  play  was  begun  :  but  soon  interrupted  by 
the  multitude,  who  burst  open  the  doors,  and  entered  with  noise  and  tumult.  The  audi¬ 
ence  escaped  in  the  best  manner  they  could ;  many  lost  their  hats  and  other  parts  of  dress. 
A  boy  had  his  skull  fractured,  and  was  yesterday  trepanned  ;  his  recovery  is  doubtful :  several 
others  were  dangerously  hurt,  but  we  heard  of  no  lives  lost.  The  multitude  immediately 
demolished  the  house,  carried  the  pieces  to  the  common,  where  they  consumed  them  in  a 
bonfire.” 


From  the  New  York  Gazette  of  August  3,  1769. 

“  Extract  of  a  letter  to  a  gentleman  in  the  city  from  a  correspondent  in  the  countrj^kdated 
July  20, — 1  Sir  :  As  a  sincere  friend  I  give  you  a  caution  now  to  be  particularly  on  your 
guard  against  the  importation  of  English  goods  ;  for  I  fear  you  will  not  get  them  sold  at  any 
rate,  as  it  appears  quite  plain  from  this  hint  of  facts,  you  may  depend  upon.  Within  these 
few  weeks  I  happened  to  be  present  at  several  meetings  of  some  towns  here,  when  among 
other  things,  they  took  into  their  most  serious  consideration  the  affair  of  buying  English 
goods  from  your  merchants,  and  it  was  strongly  reasoned  thus :  We  have  gone  (said  they) 
these  several  years  past  clearing  new  lands  and  raising  grain  only,  and  have  foolishly  neg¬ 
lected  the  raising  of  sheep  and  flax,  because  we  vainly  thought  we  could  buy  them  cheaper 
at  the  stores  than  make  them  at  our  houses  ;  until  now  our  cash  is  wholly  carried  to  Eng¬ 
land  for  their  fineries,  and  here  it  has  got  so  scarce,  that  in  a  whole  town  one  guinea  is 
scarcely  seen  in  a  year’s  time :  so  that  when  a  man  goeth  to  buy  any  necessaries  at  a  mer¬ 
chant’s  shop,  instead  of  his  purse,  he  must  take  a  wagon  load  of  grain,  and  sell  it  to  the  mer¬ 
chant’s  and  take  his  English  goods  at  whatever  price  he  pleases  to  ask. 

“  Wherefore  they  unanimously  and  firmly  resolved,  1st.  That  for  them  to  buy  any  more 
Scotch  or  English  goods  from  merchants,  was  in  fact  a  sure  wicked  way  to  qualify  Britain 
tyrannically  and  inflexibly,  from  time  to  time  to  impose  upon  Americans  whatsoever  new 
laws,  new  admiralty  courts,  or  bishop’s  courts  they  pleased,  to  take  away  our  civil  and  re¬ 
ligious  liberties  piecemeal,  until  we  and  our  posterity  were  finally  enslaved  as  deep  as  any 
Spaniard  or  African. 

“2d.  That  therefore,  whosoever  of  their  town,  durst  presume  to  buy  any  more  of  said 
British  goods,  before  the  restoring  of  our  liberty,  should  be  held,  reputed,  deemed,  and 
treated  by  all  his  neighbors  as  an  open  enemy  to  all  the  civil  and  religious  interests  of  their 
country,  &c.  &c. 

“  I  have  heard  that  a  great  many  towns,  through  the  inland  parts  of  this,  and  the  other 
provinces,  are  beginning  to  be  greatly  alarmed  with  the  fears  of  their  new  admiralty  courts, 
and  bishop’s  courts,  &c.,  and  therefore  are  forming  resolves  of  the  same  nature.  Now  if 
you  do  in  these  circumstances  import  goods,  you  will  be  ruined.  Look  round  and  see 
how  many  merchants  have  been  sent  to  jail,  and  their  families  ruined  by  importing  English 
goods,  and  not  getting  them  sold  to  any  advantage.  Yours,  &c.” 


From  the  New  York  Gazette,  March  29,  1770. 

“Last  Saturday  night  about  11  o’clock,  14  or  15  soldiers  were  seen  about  the  liberty- 
pole  in  this  city,  which  one  of  them  had  ascended,  with  an  intent  to  take  off  and  carry 
away  the  topmast  and  vane  ;  as  soon  as  they  were  discovered,  five  or  six  young  men  who 
were  accidentally  crossing  the  green  at  that  time  made  up  towards  the  pole,  to  see  what 
they  were  about,  but  they  were  immediately  attacked  and  driven  off  the  green  by  the  sol¬ 
diers  ;  who,  finding  that  they  were  discovered,  and  being  apprehensive  that  the  inhabitants 
would  be  alarmed,  they  made  off.  Soon  after  some  persons  went  into  town  and  acquainted 
their  friends  with  the  proceedings  of  the  soldiers,  upon  which  14  or  15  persons  came  up  to 
the  green,  and  going  to  tho  pole  were  there  surrounded  by  40  or  50  soldiers,  with  their  cut. 


168 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY 


lasses  drawn ;  upon  which  4  or  5  of  them  retreated  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Bicker,  and  were 
followed  by  part  of  the  soldiers,  who  immediately  called  out  for  the  soldiers  from  the  bar. 
racks ;  upon  which  they  were  joined  by  a  very  considerable  body  who  came  over  the  bar¬ 
rack  fence.  Mr.  Bicker  seeing  himself  and  family  in  danger,  and  exposed  to  the  insults  of 
a  licentious  and  brutal  soldiery,  stood  with  his  bayonet  fixed,  determined  to  defend  himself 
to  the  last  extremity,  and  declared  that  he  would  shoot  the  first  man  that  should  attempt  to 
enter ;  they  several  times  attempted  to  force  the  under  door,  the  uppei  door  being  open, 
which  Mr.  Bicker  kept  shut  by  fixing  the  point  of  his  bayonet  against  it,  while  they  kept 
cutting  and  hacking  the  barrel  of  his  gun,  in  attempting  to  cut  him  down  with  their  cut- 
lasseS) — but  he  soon  after  got  the  upper  door  shut  and  barred  ;  upon  which  they  strove  to 
break  open  the  front  windows,  which  were  also  shut,  one  of  which  they  forced  open,  broke 
the  panes  of  glass,  and  cut  all  the  frame  to  pieces,  in  order  to  get  into  the  house.  Some 
people  who  were  in  the  house  seeing  the  imminent  danger  to  which  Mr.  Bicker  and  his 
family  were  exposed,  got  out  the  back  way  and  ran  to  alarm  the  citizens.  The  chapel  bell 
was  immediately  rung,  upon  the  hearing  of  which,  the  soldiers  retreated  precipitately.  A 
number  of  the  citizens  were  up  all  night  and  under  arms,  which  probably  prevented  any 
mischief  being  done,  as  they  repeatedly  swore  that  they  would  set  fire  to  the  house,  and 
burn  or  destroy  every  person  in  it.  Col.  Robertson,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regi¬ 
ment,  repaired  to  the  barracks,  as  soon  as  he  had  notice  of  the  disturbance  ;  he  immediately 
ordered  the  centinels  to  be  confined,  and  remained  up  all  night  to  prevent  any  further  mis¬ 
chief  being  done ;  and  as  a  number  of  inhabitants  nightly  guarded  the  pole,  till  the  Trans¬ 
ports  with  the  soldiers  were  sailed,  they  were  disappointed  in  effecting  their  designs 
again*  it,  although  they  positively  swore  that  they  would  carry  off  some  part  of  it  with  them.” 


From  the  same ,  December  24,  1767 

“  To  be  disposed  of — the  remaining  time,  being  about  three  years,  of  three  German  ser¬ 
vants,  one  a  baker  by  trade,  one  a  butcher,  and  the  other  a  laborer.  They  are  very  in¬ 
dustrious  good  men,  whose  honesty  has  been  tried,  and  may  be  had  on  reasonable  terms. 
Inquire  of  the  printer  hereof.” 


“  Last  Thursday  being  the  anniversary  of  His  Majesty’s  birth-day,  when  he  entered  his 
30th  year,  the  same  was  observed  here  with  great  solemnity.  About  11  o’clock  the  de¬ 
tachment  of  the  train,  with  the  17th  and  46th  regiments,  were  paraded  on  the  battery,  and 
marched  in  order  by,  and  saluted  his  Excellency,  General  Gage  ;  at  the  same  time  his  Ex¬ 
cellency,  Sir  Henry  Moore,  the  members  of  His  Majesty’s  council  for  this  province,  his 
worship  the  mayor,  and  the  rest  of  the  corporation,  and  most  of  the  other  gentlemen  of 
the  city,  were  assembled  in  Fort  George,  where  his  Majesty’s  and  many  other  loyal  healths 
were  drank,  under  the  discharge  of  a  Royal  Salute  from  the  Fort,  which  was  immediately 
followed  by  a  salute  of  21  guns  from  the  Liberty  Pole,  on  which  was  suspended  a  Union  ; 
these  were  answered  by  three  vollies  from  the  troops,  five  of  His  Majesty’s  ships,  and  many 
other  vessels  in  our  harbor,  which  with  their  colors  displayed  made  a  very  grand  and  beautiful 
appearance ;  the  two  regiments  then  returned  to  their  barracks  and  the  train  to  the  Green, 
and  there  grounded  their  arms.  Elegant  entertainments  were  given  at  Fort  George,  and 
Head  Quarters,  by  their  Excellencies  Sir  Henry  Moore  and  General  Gage,  at  which  were 
present  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  army  and  navy,  and  most  of  the  principal  gentlemen  of 
this  place.  In  the  evening  the  most  magnificent  fire-works  ever  seen  in  America  were 
played  off  before  a  very  great  number  of  spectators.  Over  the  gate  of  Fort  George  a 
number  of  lamps  were  disposed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  represent  a  Regal  Crown  with  a 
Laurel  Tree  on  each  side,  and  before  the  door  of  his  Excellency  Gen.  Gage,  was  exhib¬ 
ited,  by  lamps  properly  placed,  a  large  and  elegant  appearance  of  the  Royal  Arms  ;  there 
being  a  general  illumination  throughout  the  city.  The  fire-works  were  conducted  in  such 
a  manner  as  showed  great  skill  and  judgment  in  the  projectors  and  operators,  every  part  be¬ 
ing  played  off  with  the  greatest  ease  imaginable,  in  the  following  order,  viz  : — 

First  Set. — Two  signal  rockets,  royal  salutes  of  21  marons,  12  sky  rockets,  a  single 
vertical  wheel,  a  Chinese  fountain,  a  line  rocket  of  three  changes  and  a  swarm  box,  2 
gerbs,  2  air  balloons  of  crackers  and  serpents,  a  Chinese  piece  with  a  horizontal  w'heel,  a 
yew  tree  with  a  brilliant  fire,  a  nest  of  serpents. 

“  Second  Set. — Two  signal  rockets,  a  salute  of  19  marons,  12  sky  rockets,  a  double 
vertical  wheel,  an  illuminated  globe,  a  fire  tree  and  swarm  box,  2  air  balloons  w'ith  crack¬ 
ers  and  stars,  3  fixed  pieces  with  double  vertical  wheels,  a  range  of  fountains,  a  yew  tree  of 
brilliant  fire,  2  nests  of  serpents. 

“  Third  Set. — Two  signal  rockets,  a  salute  of  17  marons,  12  sky  rockets,  2  signal  ver- 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


169 


tical  wheels,  a  cascade  of  brilliant  fire,  a  line  rocket  of  three  changes  and  swarm  box,  a 
range  of  fountains,  two  air  balloons  with  serpents  and  stars,  a  Chinese  piece  with  a  hori¬ 
zontal  wheel,  an  illuminated  yew  tree,  a  star  with  brilliant  rays  and  glory.  Conclusion. — 
A  flight  of  rockets.” 


From  the  same,  January  29 th,  1767. 

“Wednesday  last  several  gentlemen  arrived  here  from  Quebec,  in  Canada,  in  12  days. 
They  came  over  the  mountains  on  snow-shoes  to  Crown  Point,  and  from  thence  down 
Lake  George  on  the  ice.  The  river  St.  Lawrence  was  not  frozen  over  at  Quebec  when 
they  came  away ;  and  we  are  told  in  the  hardest  weather  it  seldom  is  frozen  there  before 
the  month  of  February.” 


“ New  York,  May  7,  1772. — On  Saturday  last  Mr.  Montanny’s  negro  man  who  had  mis¬ 
behaved,  and  was  a  remarkable  drunkard,  was  sent  to  Bridewell,  and  underwent  the  usual 
discipline  of  the  house  for  such  offences,  viz.  a  plentiful  dose  of  warm  water  and  salt  to  op¬ 
erate  as  an  emetic,  and  of  lamp  oyl  as  a  purge,  in  proportion  to  the  constitution  of  the  pa¬ 
tient.  Of  these  he  took  about  3  quarts  of  the  one,  and  2£  spoonfuls  of  the  other,  also  a 
gill  of  New  England  rum,  which  operated  very  powerfully,  attended  with  a  violent  sick¬ 
ness  which  obliged  him  to  lye  down,  and  between  8  and  9  at  night  he  was  discovered  to  be 
dead.  He  had  been  drunk  three  times  that  day  before  he  was  brought  to  Bridewell,  and 
was  not  sober  when  the  discipline  began.  Several  physicians  and  suigeons  attended,  the 
body  of  the  negro  was  opened  and  no  marks  of  violence  external  or  internal  appeared  :  the 
coroner’s  inquest  brought  in  their  verdict  that  he  died  of  excessive  drinking,  co-operating 
with  the  effects  of  the  medicine  he  had  taken.  But  that  Mr.  Dobbs,  (the  operator,)  was 
innocent  of  his  death.” 


“  New  York,  December  24,  1773. — His  Excellency  the  Governor  having  sent  to  White- 
head  Hicks,  Esq.,  Mayor  of  this  city,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds,  which  he  most  mu¬ 
nificently  ordered  to  be  applied  in  relieving  the  properest  objects  of  distress  confined  in  the 
city  gaol.  We  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  the  public  that  near  thirty  persons  have  been 
entirely  released  from  imprisonment,  and  those  whose  debts  were  too  large  to  be  cleared  by 
this  gracious  bounty  have  had  a  very  comfortable  provision  made  in  wood,  &c.,  to  carry 
them  through  the  winter.” 

“  We  hear  from  Dutchess  County  that  the  High  Sheriff,  having  received  the  sum  of  fifty 
pounds  from  his  Excellency  Governor  Tryon,  to  be  distributed  for  the  relief  of  debtors 
confined  in  his  gaol,  has  applied  that  money  in  the  manner  prescribed,  and  cheered  many 
indigent  men  whose  misfortunes  had  reduced  them  to  melancholy  durance.  The  gratitude 
of  these  unhappy  persons  on  this  gracious  attention  to  them  cannot  be  described.” 

By  His  Excellency  William  Cosby,  Esq.,  Captain  General  and  Govemour  in  Chief  of  the 
Provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Territories  thereon  depending,  in  America, 
Vice  Admiral  of  the  same,  and  Colonel  in  His  Majesty’s  Army,  &c. 

To  any  Protestant  Minister. 

Whereas  there  is  a  Mutual  Purpose  of  Marriage  between  Jacob  Glenn,  of  the  City  of 
Albany,  Merchant,  of  the  One  Party,  and  Elizabeth  Cuyler  of  the  same  City,  Spinster,  of 
the  other  party,  for  which  they  have  desired  my  Licence,  and  have  given  Bond  upon  Condi¬ 
tions,  That  neither  of  them  have  any  Lawful  Let  or  Impediment  of  Pre-Contract,  Affinity 
or  Consanguinity  to  hinder  their  being  joyned  in  the  Holy  Bands  of  Matrimony :  these  are 
therefore,  to  Authorize  and  Impower  you  to  Joyn  the  said  Jacob  Glenn  and  Elizabeth  Cuy¬ 
ler  in  the  Holy  Bands  of  Matrimony,  and  them  to  Pronounce  Man  and  Wife. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  Perogative  Seal,  at  Fort  George,  in  New  York,  the  Sixteenth 
Day  of  October,  in  the  Sixth  Year  of  the  Feign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  GEORGE  the 
Second,  by  the  Grace  of  God ,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  KING,  Defender 
of  the  Faith.  Annoq :  Domini  1732. 

W.  COSBY. 

HENDK.  MORRIS,  D.  Secry. 


From  the  Connecticut  Journal,  Nov.  20,  1775. 

“  On  the  20t.h  of  this  month  sixteen  respectable  inhabitants  of  this  town,  (New  Haven,) 
in  company  with  Capt.  Sears,  set  out  from  this  place  for  East  and  West  Chester,  in  the 
Province  of  New  York,  to  disarm  the  principal  tories  there,  and  secure  the  persons  or  Par- 

22 


170 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


son  Seabury,  Judge  Fowler,  and  Lord  Underhill.  On  their  way  thither  they  were  joined 
by  Captains  Scillick,  Richards,  and  Mead,  with  about  80  men.  At  Marrineck  they  burnt 
a  small  sloop,  which  was  purchased  by  government  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  provisions 
on  board  the  Asia.  At  East  Chester  they  seized  Judge  Fowler,  and  then  repaired  to  West 
Chester  and  secured  Seabury  and  Underhill.  Having  possessed  themselves  of  these  caitiffs, 
they  sent  them  to  Connecticut  under  a  strong  guard.  The  main  body,  consisting  of  75,  then 
.  proceeded  to  New  York,  which  they  entered  at  noon-day  on  horseback,  with  bayonets 
fixed,  in  the  greatest  regularity  went  down  the  main  street,  and  drew  up  in  close  order  be¬ 
fore  the  printing  office  of  the  infamous  James  RIVINGTON.  A  small  detachment  enter¬ 
ed  it,  and  in  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour  brought  off  the  principal  part  of  his  types,  for 
which  they  offered  to  give  an  order  on  Lord  Dunmore.  They  then  faced  and  wheeled  to 
the  left  and  marched  out  of  the  town  to  the  tune  of  YANKEE  DOODLE.  A  vast  con¬ 
course  of  people  assembled  at  the  coffee-house  bridge,  on  their  leaving  the  ground,  gave 
them  three  hearty  cheers. 

“  On  their  way  home,  they  disarmed  all  the  tories  that  lay  on  their  route,  and  yesterday  ar¬ 
rived  here  escorted  by  great  number  of  gentlemen  from  the  westward,  the  whole  making  a 
very  grand  procession.  Upon  their  entrance  into  town  they  were  saluted  with  the  discharge 
of  two  cannon,  and  received  by  the  inhabitants  with  every  mark  of  approbation  and  re¬ 
spect.  The  company  divided  into  two  parties,  and  concluded  the  day  in  festivity  and  inno¬ 
cent  mirth.  Captain  Sears  returned  in  company  with  the  other  gentlemen,  and  proposed 
to  spend  the  winter  here  unless  public  business  should  require  his  presence  in  New  York. 
Seabury,  Underhill,  and  Fowler,  three  of  the  dastardly  protesters  against  the  proceedings 
of  the  Continental  Congress^  and  who  it  is  believed  had  concerted  a  plan  for  kidnapping 
Capt.  Sears,  and  conveying  him  on  board  of  the  Asia  rnan-of-war,  are  (with  the  types  and 
arms)  safely  lodged  in  this  town  :  where  it  is  expected  Lord  Underhill  will  have  leisure  to 
form  the  scheme  of  a  lucrative  lottery,  the  tickets  of  which  cannot  be  counterfeited ;  and 
Parson  Seabury  sufficient  time  and  opportunity  to  compose  sermons  for  th§  next  Continent¬ 
al  Fast.” 


After  the  Americans  were  defeated  on  Long  Island,  August  26, 
1776,  New  York  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British  troops,  who  kept 
possession  of  it  during  the  revolutionary  war.  The  annexed  account 
of  the  military  movements  on  New  York  island  is  from  Colonel 
Humphrey’s  Life  of  General  Putnam. 

“  The  unfortunate  battle  of  Long  Island,  the  masterly  retreat  from 
thence,  and  the  actual  passage  of  part  of  the  hostile  fleet  in  the  East 
river,  above  the  town,  preceded  the  evacuation  of  New  York.  A 
promotion  of  four  major-generals,  and  six  brigadiers,  had  previously 
been  made  by  congress.  After  the  retreat  from  Long  Island,  the 
main  army,  consisting,  for  the  moment,  of  sixty  battalions,  of  which 
twenty  were  continental,  the  residue  levies  and  militia,  was,  conform¬ 
ably  to  the  exigencies  of  the  service,  rather  than  to  the  rules  of  war, 
formed  into  fourteen  brigades.  Major-general  Putnam  commanded 
the  right  grand  division  of  five  brigades,  the  Majors-general  Spencer 
and  Greene  the  centre  of  six  brigades,  and  Major-general  Heath  the 
left,  which  was  posted  near  Kingsbridge,  and  composed  of  two 
brigades.  The  whole  never  amounted  to  twenty  thousand  effective 
men  ;  while  the  British  and  German  forces,  under  Sir  William  Howe, 
exceeded  twenty-two  thousand ;  indeed,  the  minister  had  asserted  in 
parliament  that  they  would  consist  of  more  than  thirty  thousand. 
Our  two  centre  divisions,  both  commanded  by  General  Spencer,  in 
the  sickness  of  General  Greene,  moved  towards  Mount  Washington, 
Harlaem  heights,  and  Horn’s  hook,  as  soon  as  the  final  resolution 
was  taken  in  a  council  of  war,  on  the  12th  of  September,  to  abandon 
the  city.  That  event,  thus  circumstanced,  took  effect  a  few  days 
after. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


171 


“  On  Sunday,  the  15th,  the  British,  after  sending  three  ships  of  war 
up  the  North  river,  to  Bloomingdale,  and  keeping  up,  for  some  hours, 
a  severe  cannonade  on  our  lines,  from  those  already  in  the  East  river, 
landed  in  force  at  Turtle  bay.  Our  new  levies,  commanded  by  a 
state  brigadier-general,  fled  without  making  resistance.  Two  bri¬ 
gades  of  General  Putnam’s  division,  ordered  to  their  support,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  exertion  of  their  brigadiers,  and  of  the  commander-in¬ 
chief  himself  who  came  up  at  the  instant,  conducted  themselves  in 
the  same  shameful  manner.  His  excellency  then  ordered  the  heights 
of  Harlaem,  a  strong  position,  to  be  occupied.  Thither  the  forces  in 
the  vicinity,  as  well  as  the  fugitives,  repaired.  In  the  mean  time, 
General  Putnam,  with  the  remainder  of  his  command,  and  the  ordi¬ 
nary  outposts,  was  in  the  city.  After  having  caused  the  brigades  to 
begin  their  retreat  by  the  route  of  Bloomingdale,  in  order  to  avoid 
the  enemy,  who  were  then  in  the  possession  of  the  main  road  leading 
to  Kingsbridge,  he  galloped  to  call  off  the  pickets  and  guards. 
Having  myself  been  a  volunteer  in  his  division,  and  acting  adjutant  to 
the  last  regiment  that  left  the  city,  I  had  frequent  opportunities,  that 
day,  of  beholding  him,  for  the  purpose  of  issuipg  orders,  and  encour¬ 
aging  the  troops,  flying,  on  his  horse  covered  with  foam,  wherever 
his  presence  was  most  necessary.  Without  his  extraordinary  exer¬ 
tions,  the  guards  must  have  been  inevitably  lost,  and  it  is  probable 
the  entire  corps  would  have  been  cut  in  pieces.  When  we  were  not 
far  from  Bloomingdale,  an  aid-de-camp  came  from  him  at  full  speed, 
to  inform  that  a  column  of  British  infantry  v/as  descending  upon  our 
right.  Our  rear  was  soon  fired  upon,  and  the  colonel  of  our  regiment, 
whose  order  was  just  communicated  for  the  front  to  file  off  to  the 
left,  was  killed  on  the  spot.  With  no  other  loss  we  joined  the  army, 
after  dark,  on  the  heights  of  Harlaem. 

“  Before  our  brigades  came  in,  we  were  given  up  for  lost  by  all  our 
friends.  So  critical  indeed  was  our  situation,  and  so  narrow  the  gap 
by  which  we  escaped,  that  the  instapt  we  had  passed,  the  enemy 
closed  it  by  extending  their  line  from  river  to  river.  Our  men,  who 
had  been  fifteen  hours  under  arms,  harassed  by  marching  and  coun¬ 
termarching,  in  consequence  of  incessant  alarms,  exhausted  as  they 
were  by  heat  and  thirst,  (for  the  day  proved  insupportably  hot,  and 
few  or  none  had  canteens,  insomuch,  that  some  died  at  the  brooks 
where  they  drank,)  if  attacked,  could  have  made  but  feeble  resistance. 

“ .  .  .  That  night  our  soldiers,  excessively  fatigued  by  the  sultry 
march  of  the  day,  their  clothes  wet  by  a  severe  shower  of  rain  that 
succeeded  towards  the  evening,  their  blood  chilled  by  the  cold  wind 
that  produced  a  sudden  change  in  the  temperature  of  the  air,  and 
their  hearts  sunk  within  them  by  the  loss  of  baggage,  artillery,  and 
works  in  which  they  had  been  taught  to  put  great  confidence,  lay 
upon  their  arms,  covered  only  by  the  clouds  of  an  uncomfortable  sky. 

“  .  .  .  Next  morning  several  parties  of  the  enemy  appeared  upon 
the  plains  in  our  front.  On  receiving  this  intelligence,  General  Wash¬ 
ington  rode  quickly  to  the  outposts,  for  the  purpose  of  preparing 
against  an  attack,  if  the  enemy  should  advance  with  that  design. 


172 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


Lieutenant-colonel  Knowlton’s  rangers,  a  fine  selection  from  the 
eastern  regiments,  who  had  been  skirmishing  with  an  advanced  par¬ 
ty,  came  in,  and  informed  the  general  that  a  body  of  British  were 
under  cover  of  a  small  eminence  at  no  considerable  distance.  His 
excellency,  willing  to  raise  our  men  from  their  dejection  by  the  splen¬ 
dor  of  some  little  success,  ordered  Lieutenant-colonel  Knowlton,  with 
his  rangers,  and  Major  Leitch,  with  three  companies  of  Weedon’s 
regiment  of  Virginians,  to  gain  their  rear  ;  while  appearances  should 
be  made  of  an  attack  in  front.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  saw  the  party 
sent  to  decoy  them,  they  ran  precipitately  down  the  hill,  took  pos¬ 
session  of  some  fences  and  bushes,  and  commenced  a  brisk  firing  at 
long-shot.  Unfortunately,  Knowlton  and  Leitch  made  their  onset 
rather  in  flank  than  in  rear.  The  enemy  changed  their  front,  and 
the  skirmish  at  once  became  close  and  warm.  Major  Leitch  having 
received  three  balls  through  his  side,  was  soon  borne  from  the  field ; 
and  Colonel  Knowlton,  who  had  distinguished  himself  so  gallantly  at 
the  battle  of  Bunkerhill,  was  mortally  wounded  immediately  after. 
Their  men,  however,  undaunted  by  these  disasters,  stimulated  with 
the  thirst  of  revenge  for  the  loss  of  their  leaders,  and  conscious  of 
acting  under  the  eye  of  the  commander-in-chief,  maintained  the  con¬ 
flict  with  uncommon  spirit  and  perseverance.  But  the  general,  seeing 
them  in  need  of  support,  advanced  part  of  the  Maryland  regiments 
of  Griffith  and  Richardson,  together  with  some  detachments  from 
such  eastern  corps  as  chanced  to  be  most  contiguous  to  the  place  of 
action.  Our  troops  this  day,  without  exception,  behaved  with  the 
greatest  intrepidity.  So  bravely  did  they  repulse  the  British,  that 
Sir  William  Howe  moved  his  reserve,  with  two  field-pieces,  a  battal¬ 
ion  of  Hessian  grenadiers,  and  a  company  of  Chasseurs,  to  succor  his 
retreating  troops.  General  Washington,  not  willing  to  draw  on  a 
general  action,  declined  pressing  the  pursuit.  In  this  engagement 
were  the  second  and  third  battalions  of  light  infantry,  the  forty-second 
British  regiment,  and  the  German  Chasseurs,  of  whom  eight  officers, 
and  upwards  of  seventy  privates  were  wounded,  and  our  people 
buried  nearly  twenty,  who  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  We  had 
about  forty  wounded ;  our  loss  in  killed,  except  of  two  valuable  offi¬ 
cers,  was  very  inconsiderable. 

“  An  advantage  so  trivial  in  itself  produced,  in  event,  a  surprising 
and  almost  incredible  effect  upon  the  whole  army.  Amongst  the 
troops  not  engaged,  who,  during  the  action,  were  throwing  earth 
from  the  new  trenches,  with  an  alacrity  that  indicated  a  determina¬ 
tion  to  defend  them,  every  visage  was  seen  to  brighten,  and  to  as¬ 
sume,  instead  of  the  gloom  of  despair,  the  glow  of  animation.  This 
change,  no  less  sudden  than  happy,  left  little  room  to  doubt  that  the 
men,  who  ran  the  day  before  at  the  sight  of  an  enemy,  would  now, 
to  wipe  away  the  stain  of  that  disgrace,  and  to  recover  the  confidence 
of  their  general,  have  conducted  themselves  in  a  very  different  man¬ 
ner.” 

The  following  is  Mr.  Grim’s  acpount  of  the  great  fire,  21st  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  1776. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


“  The  fire  of  1776  commenced  in  a  small  wooden  house,  on  the  wharf,  near  the  White, 
hall  slip.  It  was  then  occupied  by  a  number  of  men  and  women,  of  a  bad  character.  The 
fire  began  late  at  night.  There  being  but  a  very  few  inhabitants  in  the  city,  in  a  short 
time,  it  raged  tremendously.  It  burned  all  the  houses  on  the  east  side  of  Whitehall  slip, 
and  the  west  side  of  Broad-street  to  Beaver-street.  A  providential  and  happy  circumstance 
occurred  at  this  time  ;  the  wind  was  then  southwesterly.  About  two  o’clock  that  morning, 
the  wind  veered  to  the  southeast ;  this  carried  the  flames  of  the  fire  to  the  northwestward, 
and  burned  both  sides  of  Beaver-street  to  the  east  side  of  Broadway,  then  crossed  Broadway 
to  Beaver-lane,  and  burning  all  the  houses  on  both  sides  of  Broadway,  with  some  few 
houses  in  New-street,  to  Rector-street,  and  to  John  Harrison,  Esq.’s  three  story  brick  house, 
which  house  stopped  the  fire  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway ;  from  thence  it  continued  burn¬ 
ing  all  the  houses  in  Lumber-street,  and  those  in  the  rear  of  the  houses  on  the  west  side  of 
Broadway  to  St.  Paul’s  church,  then  continued  burning  the  houses  on  both  sides  of  Parti¬ 
tion-street,  and  all  the  houses  in  the  rear  (again)  of  the  west  side  of  Broadway  to  the  North 
river.  The  fire  did  not  stop  until  it  got  into  Mortkile-street,  now  Barclay-street.  The 
college  yard  and  the  vacant  ground  in  the  rear  of  the  same,  put  an  end  to  this  awful  and 
tremendous  fire.  Trinity  church  being  burned,  was  occasioned  by  the  flakes  of  fire  that 
fell  on  the  south  side  of  the  roof.  The  southerly  wind  fanned  those  flakes  of  fire  in  a  short 
time  to  an  amazing  blaze,  and  it  soon  became  out  of  human  power  to  extinguish  the  same, 
the  roof  of  this  noble  edifice  being  so  steep  that  no  person  could  go  on  it.  St.  Paul’s  church 
was  in  the  like  perilous  situation.  The  roof  being  flat,  with  a  balustrade  on  the  eaves,  a 
number  of  the  citizens  went  on  the  same,  and  extinguished  the  flakes  of  fire  as  they  fell  on 
the  roof.  Thus  happily  was  this  beautiful  church  saved  from  the  destruction  of  this  dread¬ 
ful  fire,  which  threatened  the  ruin  thereof,  and  that  of  the  whole  city.  The  Lutheran 
church  being  contiguous  to  houses  adjoining  the  same  fire,  it  was  impossible  to  save  it  from 
destruction.  This  fire  was  so  furious  and  violently  hot,  that  no  person  could  go  near  it, 
and  there  were  no  fire  engines  to  be  had  at  that  time  in  the  city. 

“  The  number  of  houses  that  were  burned  and  destroyed  in  this  city  at  that  awful  confla¬ 
gration,  were  thus,  viz. — From  Mortkile-street  to  Courtlandt-street,  167  ;  from  Courtlandt- 
street  to  Beaver-street,  175  ;  from  Beaver-street  to  the  East  river,  151.  Total,  493.  There 
being  very  few  inhabitants  in  the  city  at  the  time,  and  many  of  those  were  afraid  to  venture 
at  night  in  the  streets,  for  fear  of  being  taken  up  as  suspicious  persons.  An  instance  to  my 
knowledge  occurred.  A  Mr.  White,  a  decent  citizen  and  house-carpenter,  rather  too  vio¬ 
lent  a  loyalist,  and  latterly,  had  addicted  himself  to  liquor,  was,  on  the  night  of  the  fire, 
hanged  on  a  tavern  signpost,  at  the  corner  of  Cherry  and  Roosevelt-street.  Several  of  the 
citizens  were  sent  to  the  provost  guard  for  examination,  and  some  of  them  remained  there 
two  and  three  days,  until  they  could  give  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  loyalty. 

“Mr.  Hugh  Gain,  in  his  Universal  Register  for  the  year  1787,  page  119,  says,  New 
Y ork  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  and  half  a  mile  broad,  containing,  before  the  fires 
on  the  21st  of  September,  1776,  and  3d  of  August,  1778,  about  4,200  houses,  and  30,000 
inhabitants.” 

The  following  annexed  account  of  the  incidents  of  the  revolutiona¬ 
ry  war  in  New  York,  is  from  Watson’s  Sketches  of  Olden  Times  in 
New  York  city. 

“  After  the  war  had  commenced  and  New  York  was  expected  to  be  captured,  almost  all 
the  Whig  families,  who  could  sustain  the  expense,  left  their  houses  and  homes  to  seek  pre¬ 
carious  refuge  where  they  could  in  the  country.  On  the  other  hand,  after  the  city  was 
possessed  by  the  British,  all  the  Tory  families  who  felt  unsafe  in  the  country  made  their 
escape  into  New  York  for  British  protection.  Painfully,  family  relations  were  broken; 
families  as  well  as  the  rulers  took  different  sides,  and  ‘  Greek  met  Greek’  in  fierce  encoun¬ 
ter. 

“  Mr.  Brower,  who  saw  the  British  force  land  in  Kip’s  bay  as  he  stood  on  the  Long 
Island  heights,  says  it  was  the  most  imposing  sight  his  eyes  ever  beheld.  The  army  crossed 
the  East  river,  in  open  flat  boats,  filled  with  soldiers  standing  erect ;  their  arms  all  glittering 
in  the  sunbeams.  They  approached  the  British  fleet  in  Kip’s  bay,  in  the  form  of  a  crescent, 
caused  by  the  force  of  the  tide  breaking  the  intended  line  of  boat  after  boat.  They  all 
closed  up  in  the  rear  of  the  fleet,  when  all  the  vessels  opened  a  heavy  cannonade. 

“  All  the  Presbyterian  churches  in  New  York  were  used  for  military  purposes  in  some 
form  or  other.  I  suspect  they  were  deemed  more  whiggish  in  general  than  some  of  the 
other  churches.  The  clergymen  of  that  order  were  in  general,  throughout  the  war,  said  to 
be  zealous  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  revolution.  The  Methodists,  on  the  contrary,  then 
few  in  number,  were  deemed  loyalists,  chiefly  from  the  known  loyalism  of  their  founder, 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Wesley.  Perhaps  to  this  cause  it  was  that  the  society  in  John  street  enjoyed  so  much 
indulgence  as  to  occupy  their  church  for  Sunday  night  service,  while  the  Hessians  had  it  in 
the  morning  service  for  their  own  chaplains  and  people. 

“  The  British  troops  were  quartered  in  any  empty  houses  of  the 
Whigs  which  might  be  found.  Wherever  men  were  billeted,  they 
marked  it. 

“  The  middle  Dutch  church  in  Nassau-street,  was  used  to  imprison 
3,000  Americans.  The  pews  were  all  gutted  out  and  used  as  fuel. 
Afterward  they  used  it  for  the  British  cavalry,  wherein  they  exer¬ 
cised  their  men,  as  a  riding  school ;  making  them  leap  over  raised 
windlasses.  At  the  same  place  they  often  picketed  their  men,  as  a 
punishment,  making  them  bear  their  weight  on  their  toe  on  a  sharp 
goad.  At  the  same  place,  while  the  prisoners  remained  there,  Mr. 
Andrew  Mercein  told  me  he  used  to  see  the  ‘  dead  cart’  come  every 
morning,  to  bear  off  six  or  eight  of  the  dead.  The  old  sugar-house, 
which  also  adjoined  to  this  church,  was  filled  with  the  prisoners  taken 
at  Long  Island ;  there  they  suffered  much,  they  being  kept  in  an 
almost  starved  condition.  This  starving  proceeded  from  different 
motives ;  they  wished  to  break  the  spirit  of  the  prisoners,  and  to 
cause  their  desertion,  or  to  make  the  war  unwelcome  to  their  friends 
at  home.  On  some  occasions,  as  I  shall  herein  show,  the  British 
themselves  were  pinched  for  supplies ;  and  on  other  occasions  the 
commissaries  had  their  own  gam  to  answer,  by  withholding  what 
they  could  from  the  prisoners.  I  could  not  find,  on  inquiry,  that 
Americans  in  New  York  were  allowed  to  help  their  countrymen 
unless  by  stealth.  I  was  told  by  eye-witnesses  of  cases,  where  the 
wounded  came  crawling  to  the  openings  in  the  wall,  and  begging 
only  for  one  cup  of  water,  and  could  not  be  indulged,  the  sentinels 
saying,  we  are  sorry  too,  but  our  orders  have  been,  ‘  suffer  no  com¬ 
munication  in  the  absence  of  vour  officer.’ 

“  The  north  Dutch  church  in  William-street  was  entirely  gutted  of 
its  pews,  and  made  to  hold  2,000  prisoners.  The  Quaker  meeting  in 
Pearl-street  was  converted  into  an  hospital.  The  old  French  church 
was  used  as  a  prison.  Mr.  Thomas  Swords  told  me  they  used  to 
bury  the  prisoners  on  the  mount,  then  on  the  corner  of  Grace  and 
Lumber  streets.  It  was  an  old  redoubt. 

“  Cunningham  was  infamous  for  his  cruelty  to  the  prisoners,  even 
depriving  them  of  life,  it  is  said,  for  the  sake  of  cheating  his  king  and 
country  by  continuing  for  a  time  to  draw  their  nominal  rations  !  The 
prisoners  at  the  Provost,  (the  present  debtors’  prison  in  the  Park,) 
were  chiefly  under  his  severity,  (my  father  among  the  number  for  a 
time.)  It  was  said  he  was  only  restrained  from  putting  them  to 
death,  (five  or  six  of  them  of  a  night,  back  of  the  prison-yard,  where 
were  also  their  graves,)  by  the  distress  of  certain  women  in  the  neigh¬ 
borhood,  who,  pained  by  the  cries  for  mercy  which  they  heard,  went 
to  the  commander-in-chief,  and  made  the  case  known,  with  entreaties 
to  spare  their  lives  in  future.  This  unfeeling  wretch,  it  is  said,  came 
afterward  to  an  ignominious  end,  being  executed  in  England,  as  was 
published  in  Hall  and  Sellers’  paper  in  Philadelphia.  It  was  there 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


175 


said,  that  it  came  out  on  the  trial  that  he  boasted  of  having  killed 
more  of  the  king’s  enemies  by  the  use  of  his  own  means  than  had 
been  effected  by  the  king’s  arms  ! — he  having,  as  it  was  there  stated, 
used  a  preparation  of  arsenic  in  their  flour ! 

“  Loring,  another  commissary  of  prisoners,  was  quite  another  man, 
and  had  a  pretty  good  name.  Mr.  Lennox,  the  other,  being  now  a 
resident  of  New  York,  I  forbear  any  remarks. 

“  There  was  much  robbing  in  the  city  by  the  soldiery  at  times.  In 
this,  Lord  Rawdon’s  corps  and  the  king’s  guards  were  said  to  have 
been  pre-eminent. 

“  The  British  cast  up  a  line  of  intrenchments  quite  across  from 
Corlear’s  hook  to  Bunker’s  hill,  on  the  Bowery  road,  and  placed  gates 
across  the  road  there.  The  Hessians,  under  Knyphausen,  were  en¬ 
camped  on  a  mount  not  far  from  Corlear’s  hook. 

“  Mr.  Andrew  Mercein,  who  was  present  in  New  York  when  most 
of  the  above-mentioned  things  occurred,  has  told  me  several  facts. 
He  was  an  apprentice  with  a  baker  who  made  bread  for  the  army, 
and  states,  that  there  was  a  time  when  provisions,  even  to  their  own 
soldiery,  was  very  limited.  For  instance,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Cork  provision  fleet  over-staying  their  time,  he  has  dealt  out  six 
penny  loaves,  as  fast  as  he  could  hand  them,  for  ‘  a  hard  half  dollar 
a-piece  !’  The  baker  then  gave  $20  a  cwt.  for  his  flour.  They  had 
to  make  oatmeal  bread  for  the  navy.  Often  he  has  seen  Is.  a  pound 
given  for  butter,  when  before  the  war  it  was  but  2d. 

“  When  Cornwallis  was  in  difficulties  at  Yorktown,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  send  him  out  all  possible  help,  they  took  the  citizens  by 
constraint  and  enrolled  them  as  a  militia.  In  this  service  Mr.  Mer¬ 
cein  was  also  compelled,  and  had  to  take  his  turns  at  the  fort.  There 
they  mounted  guard,  &c.  in  military  attire,  just  lent  to  them  for  the 
time  and  required  to  be  returned.  The  non-commissioned  officers 
were  generally  chosen  as  Tories,  but  often  without  that  condition. 
Mr.  Mercein’s  sergeant  was  whiggish  enough  to  have  surrendered  if 
he  had  had  the  proper  chance.  There  were  some  independent  com¬ 
panies  of  Tories  there. 

“  It  was  really  an  affecting  sight  to  see  the  operations  of  the  final 
departure  of  all  the  king’s  embarkation ;  the  royal  band  beat  a  fare¬ 
well  march.  Then  to  see  so  many  of  our  countrymen,  with  their 
women  and  children,  leaving  the  lands  of  their  fathers  because  they 
took  the  king’s  side,  going  thence  to  the  bleak  and  barren  soil  of 
Nova  Scotia,  was  at  least  affecting  to  them.  Their  hearts  said,  ‘  My 
country,  with  all  thy  faults  I  love  thee  still.’ 

“  In  contrast  to  this,  there  followed  the  entry  of  our  tattered  and 
weather-beaten  troops,  followed  by  all  the  citizens  in  regular  platoons. 

“  ‘  Oh !  one  day  of  such  a  welcome  sight, 

Were  worth  a  whole  eternity  of  lesser  years.’ 

«  Then  crowded  home  to  their  own  city,  all  those  who  had  been 
abroad,  reluctant  exiles  from  British  rule  ;  now  fondly  cherishing  in 
their  hearts,  ‘  this  is  my  own,  my  native  land.’ 


176 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


“  The  Hessian  troops  were  peculiarly  desirous  to  desert  so  as  to 
remain  in  our  country,  and  hid  themselves  in  every  family  where  they 
could  possibly  secure  a  friend  to  help  their  escape. 

“ .  .  .  Captain  Graydon  of  Philadelphia,  who  has  left  us  amusing 
and  instructive  memoirs  of  sixty  years  of  his  observing  life,  having 
been  among  the  officers  and  men  (2,000)  captured  at  Fort  Washing¬ 
ton  near  New  York,  and  held  prisoners,  has  left  us  many  instructive 
pages  concerning  the  incidents  at  New  York  while  held  by  the  Brit¬ 
ish,  which  ought  to  be  read  by  all  those  who  can  feel  any  interest  in 
such  domestic  history  as  I  have  herein  endeavored  to  preserve. 

“  After  our  capture,  (says  he,)  we  were  committed,  men  and  offi¬ 
cers,  to  the  custody  of  young  and  insolent  officers ;  we  were  again 
and  again  taunted  as  ‘  cursed  rebels,’  and  that  we  should  all  be 
hanged.  Repeatedly  we  were  paraded,  and  every  now  and  then 
one  and  another  of  us  was  challenged  among  our  officers  as  deserters ; 
affecting  thereby  to  consider  their  common  men  as  good  enough  for 
our  ordinary  subaltern  officers.  Unfortunately  for  our  pride  and 
self-importance,  among  those  so  challenged  was  here  and  there  a 
subject  fitted  to  their  jibes  and  jeers.  A  little  squat  militia  officer, 
from  York  county,  with  dingy  clothes  the  worse  for  wear,  was  ques¬ 
tioned  with  ‘  What,  sir,  is  your  rank  V  when  he  answered  in  a  chuff 
and  firm  tone,  ‘  a  keppun,  sir ;’  an  answer  producing  an  immoderate 
laugh  among  ‘the  haughty  Britons.’  There  was  also  an  unlucky 
militia  trooper  of  the  same  school,  with  whom  the  officers  were 
equally  merry,  obliging  him  to  amble  about  for  their  entertainment 
on  his  old  jade,  with  his  odd  garb  and  accoutrements.  On  being 
asked  what  were  his  duties,  he  simply  answered,  ‘  it  was  to  flank  a 
little  and  bear  tidings .’ 

“  At  this  beginning  period  of  the  war,  most  things  on  the  American 
side  were  coarse  and  rough.  Maryland  and  Philadelphia  county  put 
forward  young  gentlemen  as  officers  of  gallant  bearing  and  demean¬ 
or  ;  but  New  England,  and  this,  then  seat  of  war,  was  very  deficient 
in  such  material.  In  many  cases  subaltern  officers  at  least  could 
scarcely  be  distinguished  from  their  men  other  than  by  their  cock¬ 
ades.  It  was  not  uncommoh  for  colonels  to  make  drummers  and 
lifers  of  their  sons.  Among  such  the  eye  looked  around  in  vain  for 
the  leading  gentry  of  the  country.  General  Putnam  could  be  seen 
riding  about  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  with  his  hanger  over  his  open  vest : 
and  Colonel  Putnam,  his  nephew,  did  not  disdain  to  carry  his  own 
piece  of  meat,  saying,  as  his  excuse,  ‘  it  will  show  our  officers  a  good 
lesson  of  humility.’ 

“ .  .  .  The  American  officers  took  full  latitude  of  their  parole,  in  traversing  the  streets  in 
all  directions  with  a  good  deal  of  purposed  assurance.  One  of  them,  on  one  occasion, 
wearing  his  best  uniform,  v '  the  great  gaze  and  wonderment  of  many,  actually  ventured 
disdainfully  to  pass  the  coffee  house,  then  the  general  resort  of  the  British  officers.  At 
other  times,  when  the  Kolch  water  was  frozen  over,  and  was  covered  with  British  officers, 
who  thought  themselves  proficients  in  skating,  it  was  the  malicious  pleasure  of  some  of  our 
officers  to  appear  and  eclipse  them  all.  The  officers  occasionally  met  with  cordial  civilities 
and  genteel  entertainment  from  British  officers  with  whom*they  came  in  contact ;  for,  in 
truth,  the  latter  valued  their  personal  gentility  too  much  to  seem  to  be  in  any  degree  defL 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


177 


cient  in  politeness  and  courtesy  when  they  met  with  those  whom  they  thought  sufficiently 
polished  to  appreciate  their  demeanor. 

“  .  .  .  The  residence  of  Admiral  Digby,  and  indeed  of  all  naval  officers  of  distinction  nr- 
riving  on  the  station,  was  Beekman’s  house,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Sloate-lane  and 
Hanover  square.  There  dwelt,  under  the  guardianship  of  Admiral  Digby,  Prince  Willaim 
j Henry,  the  late  king  of  England.  What  associations  of  idea  must  be  produced  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  can  still  remember  when  he  walked  the  streets  of  New  York  in  the 
common  garb  of  a  midshipman’s  *  roundabout,’  or  when  they  saw  him  a  knocked-kneed  lad, 
joining  the  boys  in  skating  on  the  Kolch  pond  I” 

The  annexed  is  a  description  of  some  of  the  principal  British  officers.  “  Sir  William 
Howe  was  a  fine  figure,  full  six  feet  high,  and  admirably  well  proportioned.  In  person  he 
a  good  deal  resembled  Washington,  and  might  have  been  mistaken  for  hiij  at  a  distance. 
His  features,  though  good,  were  more  pointed,  and  the  expression  of  his  countenance  was 
less  benignant.  His  manners  were  polished,  graceful,  and  dignified.  He  lived  at  N. 
Prime’s  house,  at  the  south  end  of  Broadway,  near  the  battery. 

“  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  short  and  fat,  with  a  full  face,  prominent  nose,  and  animated  in¬ 
telligent  countenance.  In  his  manners  he  was  polite  and  courtly,  but  more  formal  and 
distant  than  Howe ;  and  in  his  intercourse  with  his  officers,  was  rather  punctilious  and  not 
inclined  to  intimacy. 

“  Lord  Cornwallis  in  person  was  short  and  thick  set,  but  not  so  corpulent  as  Sir  Henry. 
He  had  a  handsome  aquiline  nose,  and  hair,  when  young,  light  and  rather  inclined  to  san¬ 
dy  ;  but  at  the  time  of  his  leaving  here  it  had  become  somewhat  gray.  His  face  was  well 
formed  and  agreeable,  and  would  have  been  altogether  fine  had  he  not  blinked  badly  with 
his  left  eye.  He  was  uncommonly  easy  and  affable  in  his  manners,  and  always  accessible 
to  the  lowest  of  his  soldiers,  by  whom  he  was  greatly  beloved.  With  his  officers  he  used 
the  utmost  cordiality. 

“  General  Knyphausen,  who  commanded  the  Germans,  was  a  fine-looking  German,  of 
about  five  feet  eleven,  straight  and  slender.  His  features  were  sharp,  and  his  appearance 
martial. 

“  Tarleton  was  below  the  middle  size,  stout,  strong,  heavily  made,  with  large  legs,  but 
uncommonly  active.  His  eye  was  small,  black,  and  piercing ;  his  face  smooth,  and  his 
complexion  dark ;  he  was  quite  young,  probably  about  twenty-five. 

“  Colonel  Abercrombie,  who  afterward  gained  so  much  eclat  in  Egypt,  where  he  fell, 
was  one  of  the  finest  built  men  in  the  army ;  straight  and  elegantly  proportioned.  His 
countenance  was  strong  and  manly,  but  his  face  was  much  pitted  by  the  small-pox.  When 
here  he  appeared  to  be  about  forty.” 


CAPT.  NATHAN  HALE. 

“  This  eminent  martyr  to  American  liberty  was  the  son  of  Deacon  Richard  Hale,  of 
Coventry,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  born  June  6, 1755  ;  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1773.  Possessed  of  genius,  taste,  and  ardor,  he  early  became  distinguished  as  a  scholar, 
and  being  endowed  in  an  eminent  degree  with  those  gifts  and  graces  which  always  add  a 
new  charm  to  youthful  excellence,  he  gained  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  that  knew 
him.  Being  a  patriot  from  principle,  and  enthusiastic  in  a  cause  which  appealed  equally  to 
his  sense  of  justice  and  his  love  of  liberty,  he  was  among  the  first  to  take  up  arms  in  de¬ 
fence  of  his  country,  whose  soil  had  been  invaded  by  a  hostile  force,  and  its  citizens  subjected 
to  the  alternative  of  determined  resistance  or  humiliating  submission.  The  life  of  Captain 
Hale  was  short,  but  eventful.  Its  termination  was  under  rare  circumstances  of  intrepidity 
and  cruelty.  His  case  has  been  deemed  parallel  with  that  of  Major  Andre,  and  in  some 
respects  it  was  so — the  nature  of  the  service  was  identical.  Both  were  young,  well  edu¬ 
cated,  ardent  and  brave  ;  one  for  his  king,  the  other  for  his  country  ;  and  each  fell  a  victim 
to  the  rigor  of  military  law.  The  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  roused  his  martial  spirit, 
and  summoned  him  to  the  tented  field.  Before  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  a  cap¬ 
tain’s  commission  was  tendered  him,  and  he  soon  became  an  efficient  officer  in  the  conti¬ 
nental  army ;  where  his  activity,  zeal,  and  patriotism,  obtained  universal  approbation.  The 
company  under  his  command,  participating  in  the  same  spirit,  submitted  to  a  system  of  disci¬ 
pline  before  unknown  to  the  army;  and  which  produced  very  beneficial  results.  He  entered  as 
a  captain  in  the  light  infantry  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Knowlton,  of  Ashford,  and 
was  with  the  army  on  its  retreat  from  Long  Island,  in  August,  1776.  The  American  forces 
took  refuge  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  afterward  at  the  heights  at  Harlaem ;  and  it  be- 
came  a  matter  of  the  utmost  importance,  in  the  opinion  of  the  commander  in-chief,  to  as. 
certain  the  numerical  force  and  contemplated  operations  of  the  enemy ;  for  on  that  know- 

23 


178 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


'edge  depended  the  safety  of  the  American  army,  and  perhaps  the  nation  also.  A  council 
of  officers  was  assembled,  and  resulted  in  a  determination  to  send  some  one  competent  to 
the  task  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy’s  camp,  and  Colonel  Knowlton  was  charged  with  the 
selection  of  an  individual  to  perform  the  delicate  and  hazardous  service.  On  being  inform¬ 
ed  of  the  views  and  wishes  of  Washington,  Hale,  without  hesitation,  volunteered  his  ser¬ 
vices,  saying  that  he  did  not  accept  a  commission  for  fame  alone  ;  that  he  had  been  some¬ 
time  in  the  army  without  being  able  thus  far  to  render  any  signal  aid  to  his  country ;  and 
that  he  now  felt  impelled,  by  high  considerations  of  duty,  to  peril  his  life  in  a  cause  of  so  vital 
importance  when  an  opportunity  presented  itself  of  being  useful.  The  arguments  of  his 
friends  were  unavailing  to  dissuade  him  from  the  undertaking  ;  and  having  disguised  him¬ 
self  as  well  as  he  could,  he  left  his  quarters  at  Harlaem  Heights,  and  having  an  order  from 
the  commander-in-chief  to  all  the  American  armed  vessels  to  convey  him  to  any  point  which 
he  should  designate,  he  was  enabled  to  cross  the  sound  from  Fairfield  to  Long  Island,  and 
arrived  at  Huntington  about  the  middle  of  September,  1776.  When  he  reached  Brooklyn, 
the  British  army  had  taken  possession  of  New  York.  He  examined  with  the  utmost  cau¬ 
tion  the  fortifications  of  the  enemy,  and  ascertained  as  far  as  possible  their  number,  posi¬ 
tion,  and  future  intentions  ;  and  having  satisfactorily  accomplished  the  objects  of  his  mission, 
he  again  reached  Huntington  for  the  purpose  of  re-crossing  the  sound.  While  waiting  for 
a  passage,  a  boat  came  on  shore,  which  he  at  first  supposed  to  be  from  Connecticut,  but 
proved  to  be  from  a  British  vessel,  the  Cerberus,  lying  in  the  sound  ;  and  on  board  this  boat, 
it  is  said,  was  a  relative  of  Capt.  Hale,  a  tory  refugee,  who  recognised  and  betrayed  him. 
He  had, assumed  a  character  which  did  not  belong  to  him,  that  of  pretending  to  be  what  he  was 
not.  That  he  was  a  spy ,  could  no  longer  be  concealed,  and  he  was  immediately  sent  to 
General  Howe  at  New  York.  Here  the  parallel  between  his  case  and  that  of  Andre  ceases 
The  latter  was  allowed  time  and  an  impartial  trial  before  officers  of  honorable  rank  and 
character,  and  his  last  moments  were  soothed  by  tenderness  and  sympathy.  Not  so  with 
the  former ;  he  was  delivered  into  the  possession  of  the  infamous  provost-marshal,  Cun¬ 
ningham,  and  ordered  immediately  for  execution,  without  even  the  formality  of  a  trial. 
The  order  was  performed  in  a  brutal  manner  on  the  twenty-first  of  September,  1776,  and 
his  body  was  buried  on  the  spot  where  he  breathed  his  last.  He  was,  indeed,  permitted  to 
consecrate  a  few  previous  moments  in  writing  to  his  family  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  work  of 
death  was  done,  even  this  testimony  of  affection  and  patriotism  was  destroyed,  assigning 
as  the  cause,  *  that  the  rebels  should  never  know  they  had  a  man  in  their  army  who  could 
die  with  such  firmness.'  In  this  Lying  hour  the  use  of  a  bible  and  the  attendance  of  a 
minister,  which  he  desired,  were  also  denied  him.  Thus  unknown  to  those  around  him, 
with  no  eye  to  pity,  or  a  voice  to  administer  consolation,  fell  one  of  the  most  noble  and 
amiable  youths  which  America  could  boast ;  with  this  his  dying  observation,  4  that  he  only 
lamented  he  had  but  one  life  to  lose  for  his  country.'  Though  the  manner  of  his  execution 
will  be  abhorred  by  every  friend  of  humanity,  yet  there  cannot  be  a  question  but  that  the 
sentence  of  death  was  conformable  to  the  practice  of  all  civilized  nations.  It  is,  however, 
but  common  justice  to  the  character  of  Captain  Hale  to  state,  that  his  motives  for  engaging 
in  this  service  were  entirely  different  from  those  which  sometimes  influence  others  in  like 
cases.  Neither  expectation  of  promotion  or  pecuniary  reward  induced  the  attempt.  A 
high  sense  of  public  duty,  and  a  hope  of  being  in  this  way  useful  to  his  country,  and  the 
opinion  which  he  had  adopted,  that  every  kind  of  service  became  honorable  by  being  ne¬ 
cessary,  were  the  motives  which  prompted  him  to  this  hazardous,  and,  to  him,  fatal  enter¬ 
prise.  To  see  such  an  one,  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  influenced  by  the  purest  intentions,  and 
emulous  of  doing  good  to  his  beloved  country,  fall  a  victim  to  the  policy  of  nations,  must 
have  been  wounding  even  to  the  feelings  of  his  enemies. 

“Among  other  causes  of  distress  in  1776,  the  want  of  provisions  and  clothing  was  se¬ 
verely  felt  by  the  American  army.  Just  previous  to  the  battle  of  Long  Island  it  was  as¬ 
certained  that  an  English  sloop,  with  supplies  of  these  essential  articles,  had  arrived  in  the 
East  river,  and  lay  there  under  the  protection  of  the  ship  Asia,  of  ninety  guns.  Captain 
Hale  conceived  the  bold  project  of  capturing  this  sloop,  and  bringing  her  into  the  port  of 
New  York,  and  found  a  sufficient  number  of  bold  hearts  and  stout  hands  to  make  the  at¬ 
tempt.  At  an  hour  concerted,  they  passed  in  a  boat  to  a  point  of  land  nearest  the  sloop, 
where  they  lay  till  the  moon  was  down  ;  and  when  all  was  quiet,  except  the  voice  of  the 
watchman  on  the  quaner-deck  of  the  Asia,  they  pulled  for  the  sloop,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
were  on  board.  She  became  their  prize,  and  the  goods  were  distributed  to  those  who 
needed  them  in  our  army. 

“  A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Coventry  and  the  neighboring  towns  was  held  on  the  25th 
of  November,  1836,  at  which  a  society  was  formed  called  the  Hale  Monument  Associa- 
Tion,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  measures  to  erect  a  suitable  memorial  to  the  memory  of 
the  subject  of  this  notice.  An  eloquent  address  was  delivered  on  the  occasion,  by  An- 


NEW  YOKK  COUNTY. 


179 


drew  T.  Judson,  Esq.,  lo  whom  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  information  contained  in 
this  brief  memoir. 

“  The  following  poetical  tribute  to  the  lamented  Hale,  is  from  the  pen  of  the  late  Presi. 
dent  Dwight : — 

‘  Thus,  while  fond  virtue  wished  in  vain  to  save, 

Hale,  bright  and  generous,  found  a  hapless  grave  ; 

With  genius'  living  flame  his  bosom  glow’d, 

And  science  charmed  him  to  her  sweet  abode ; 

In  worth's  fair  path,  adventured  far, 

The  pride  of  peace,  and  rising  grace  of  war.’ 

“  As  yet  no  monument  has  been  erected,  nor  have  his  ashes  ever  been  recovered.  A 
select  committee  of  congress,  on  the  19th  of  January,  1836,  recommended  an  appropria¬ 
tion  of  one  thousand  dollars  from  the  treasury  of  the  United  States  towards  carrying  the 
object  into  effect ;  but  no  action  was  ever  had  upon  it  afterward,  and  it  is  much  to  be 
feared  so  praiseworthy  a  design  will  be  suffered  to  sleep,  perhaps  forever.” — Thompson's 
History  of  Long  Island. 

The  annexed  account  of  the  evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  Brit¬ 
ish,  and  the  entrance  of  the  American  troops,  under  Washington,  is 
extracted  from  Thatcher’s  Military  Journal. 

“  November  25th,  1783. — The  British  army  evacuated  New  York, 
and  the  American  troops  under  General  Knox,  took  possession  of  the 
city.  Soon  after,  General  Washington  and  Governor  Clinton,  with 
their  suite,  made  their  public  entry  into  the  city  on  horseback,  fol¬ 
lowed  by  the  lieutenant-governor  and  the  members  of  council,  for 
the  temporary  government  of  the  southern  district,  four  abreast ; 
General  Knox  and  the  officers  of  the  army,  eight  abreast ;  citizens 
on  horseback,  eight  abreast ;  the  speaker  of  the  assembly  and  citizens 
on  foot,  eight  abreast.  The  governor  gave  a  public  dinner,  at  which 
the  commander-in-chief,  and  other  general  officers  were  present. 
The  arrangements  for  the  whole  business  were  so  well  made  and 
executed,  that  the  most  admirable  tranquillity  succeeded  through  the 
day  and  night.  On  Monday  the  governor  gave  an  elegant  enter¬ 
tainment  to  the  French  ambassador,  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne ; 
General  Washington,  the  principal  officers  of  New  York  state,  and 
of  the  army,  and  upwards  of  a  hundred  gentlemep  were  present. 
Magnificent  fireworks,  infinitely  exceeding  every  thing  of  the  kind 
before  seen  in  the  United  States,  were  exhibited  at  the  Bowling 
Green,  in  Broadway,  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  in  celebration  of 
the  definitive  treaty  of  peace.  They  commenced  by  a  dove  descend¬ 
ing  with  the  olive  branch,  and  setting  fire  to  a  marron  battery.  On 
Tuesday  noon,  December  4th,  the  principal  officers  of  the  army  as¬ 
sembled  at  Francis’  tavern,  to  take  a  final  leave  of  their  much  loved 
commander-in-chief.  Soon  after,  his  excellency  entered  the  room. 
His  emotions  were  too  strong  to  be  concealed.  Filling  a  glass,  he 
turned  to  them  and  said,  ‘  With  a  heart  full  of  love  and  gratitude,  I 
now  take  leave  of  you.  I  most  devoutly  wish  that  your  latter  days 
may  be  as  prosperous  and  happy  as  your  former  ones  have  been 
glorious  and  honorable.’  Having  drank,  he  added,  *  I  cannot  come 
to  each  of  you  to  take  my  leave,  but  shall  be  obliged  to  you,  if  each 
of  you  will  come  and  take  me  by  the  hand.’  General  Knox  being 
nearest,  turned  to  him.  Incapable  of  utterance,  W ashington,  in  tears, 


180 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


grasped  his  hand,  embraced  and  kissed  him.  In  the  same  affection¬ 
ate  manner  he  took  leave  of  each  succeeding  officer.  In  every  eye 
was  the  tear  of  dignified  sensibility ;  and  not  a  word  was  articulated 
to  interrupt  the  eloquent  silence  and  tenderness  of  the  scene.  Leav¬ 
ing  the  room,  he  passed  through  the  corps  of  light  infantry,  and 
walked  to  Whitehall,  -where  a  barge  waited  to  convey  him  to  Paulus’ 
Hook.  The  whole  company  followed  in  mute  and  solemn  proces¬ 
sion,  with  dejected  countenances,  testifying  feelings  of  delicious  mel¬ 
ancholy  which  no  language  can  describe.  Having  entered  the 
barge  he  turned  to  the  company,  and  waving  his  hat,  bid  them  a  silent 
adieu.  They  paid  him  the  same  affectionate  compliment,  and  after  the 
barge  had  left  them,  returned  in  the  same  solemn  manner  to  the  place 
where  they  had  assembled.  The  passions  of  human  nature  were  never 
more  tenderly  agitated  than  in  this  interesting  and  distressful  scene.” 

The  following,  respecting  the  prevalence  of  the  yellow  fever  at 
various  times  in  New  York,  is  from  a  publication  written  by  James 
Hardie,  A.  M.,  printed  in  New  York  in  1822. 

“The  yellow  fever,  in  our  times,  was  first  observed  in  this  city  in  the  year  1791,  when 
General  Malcolm  and  some  other  very  respectable  citizens  fell  victims  to  its  fury.  The 
late  respectable  Dr.  James  Tillary,  at  a  meeting  a  number  of  physicians,  explained  the 
symptoms  of  the  disease,  described  its  character,  and  gave  it  its  true  name.  To  all  present, 
excepting  two,  the  doctor  spoke  in  a  language  which  was  past  their  comprehension,  as  he 
had  described  a  disease  which  they  had  never  seen,  and  of  which  they  had  not  the  most 
distant  conception.  But  it  was  well  remembered  by  the  late  venerable  Dr.  John  Carleton 
and  Dr.  Samuel  Bard,  who  had  seen  the  same  fell  destroyer,  spreading  havoc  and  destruc¬ 
tion  in  this  city,  about  forty  years  before  that  period.  Since  that  time,  it  has  repeatedly 
made  its  appearance  amongst  us,  and  every  physician  in  this  city  as  well  as  in  most  other 
maritime  cities  in  the  United  States  has  had  repeated  opportunities  of  seeing  it  and  of  de¬ 
vising,  in  his  own  mind,  what  he  might  deem  the  most  effectual  means  of  its  prevention 
and  cure. 

“  As  the  sickness,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1798,  was  by  far  more  fatal  than  any 
which  has  happened  since  that  time,  I  shall  endeavor  to  give  as  brief  an  account  as  possi. 
ble  of  its  origin,  progress,  and  termination. 

“  Its  first  victim,  in  all  probability,  was  Mr.  Melancton  Smith,  who  died  on  the  28th  or 
29th  of  July,  after  an  illness  of  a  few  days.  His  case  was  said  to  have  been  attended  with 
the  most  malignant  symptoms ;  but  such  was  the  general  opinion  of  the  inhabitants  with 
respect  to  the  healthiness  of  our  city,  that  his  death  excited  little  or  no  alarm.  It  was  be¬ 
lieved  that  Mr.  Smith  had  been  taken  sick  at  his  store,  in  Front-street,  near  Coenties-slip, 
and  a  few  days  after  his  death,  several  persons  were  attacked  with  sickness  in  that  vicinity. 
The  symptoms  of  their  disorders,  however,  appeared  to  be  similar  to  that  of  a  common  cold. 
They  were,  therefore,  negligent  in  obtaining  medical  aid ;  hence  the  disease  got  the  as¬ 
cendancy  before  they  were  aware  of  their  danger,  and  the  assistance  of  physicians  was 
called  for  when  it  was  too  late. 

“  Whether  any  case  of  pestilential  fever  existed  in  the  earlier  part  of  August,  remote 
from  the  place  where  it  was  believed  to  have  originated,  was  not,  at  the  time,  ascertained 
to  a  certainty  ;  but  of  this  there  was  no  doubt,  viz.  that  about  the  20th  of  the  month,  cases 
of  a  highly  malignant  nature  appeared  in  different  parts  of  the  city  on  the  same  day,  and  in 
the  course  of  six  or  eight  days  in  different  streets  very  remote  from  one  another.  In  par. 
ticular,  it  began  to  rage  with  great  violence  at  the  New-slip ;  in  Cliff-street  and  John-street  • 
but  more  especially  in  Rider-street  and  Eden’s-alley,  where  not  a  family  escaped  it,  nor 
was  there  a  house,  except  two,  jn  which  it  did  not  terminate  fatally  to  one  or  more  indi¬ 
viduals. 

“  The  Health  Commissioners  began  to  be  apprehensive  respecting  the  appearance  of  this 
pestilence  so  early  as  the  6th  of  August,  on  which  day  they  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Mayor.  It  was  to  the  following  purport,  viz.  that  ‘  the  unfinished  state  of  the  docks  in 
Front-street,  between  Coenties  and  the  Old  slips,  generally,  had  been,  in  their  opinion,  a 
source  of  disease,  in  that  neighborhood,  last  year,  and  had  occasioned  the  death  of  several 
valuable  citijtpps.  That  they  cannot  sufficiently  regrpf  that  they  had  reason  to  renew  their 


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181 


remonstrances  on  this  subject,  and  that  its  present  situation  was  likely  to  be  productive  of 
still  greater  evils  than  those  of  last  year.’  They  added,  that  several  persons  had  sickened 
in  the  neighborhood  of  these  unfinished  grounds  within  a  week,  and  with  symptoms  strik¬ 
ingly  characteristic  of  yellow  fever;  and  they  recommended  that  the  common  council 
would  appoint  two  of  their  members,  with  whom  they  (the  commissioners)  would  meet, 
at  an  early  hour  on  the  ensuing  morning,  to  concert  measures  adapted  to  the  emergency 
of  the  case.  The  board  very  cheerfully  complied  with  this  recommendation,  and  such 
measures  were  immediately  adopted  as  were  deemed  most  likely  to  check  the  progress  of 
the  growing  malady ;  but  it  had  now  taking  so  deep  root,  that  it  could  neither  be  eradi¬ 
cated  nor  checked  by  human  means. 

“  On  the  same  day  (6th  August)  the  commissioners  issued  an  advertisement,  notifying 
their  determination  to  put  the  laws  in  force  against  those  who  should  neglect  to  kee-p  the 
streets  clean  before  their  respective  doors,  &c.,  adding  that  the  street  inspectors  were  di¬ 
rected  to  report  all  offences  of  this  nature  to  the  police,  and  that  the  penalty  against  offend¬ 
ers  would  be  rigidly  exacted. 

“  On  the  12th,  13th  and  14th  of  August,  there  were  heavy  showers  of  rain ;  that  on  the 
14th  commenced  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  continued  without  intermission  until  nine, 
with  considerable  thunder.  The  quantity  which  fell  during  these  five  hours,  was  supposed 
to  have  been  greater  than  had  at  any  time  fallen,  during  the  same  space  of  time,  for  many 
years.  The  streets  were  covered  with  water  in  many  places  knee-deep,  and  a  vast  num¬ 
ber  of  cellars  were  filled  with  it. 

“  It  was  at  the  time  generally  believed,  that  this  excessive  rain  and  thunder  would 
have  so  purified  the  air,  that  the  city  would,  in  a  few  days,  be  totally  exempt  from  any 
cases  of  this  disorder ;  but,  alas !  our  expectations  were  dreadfully  disappointed.  It  is  well 
known,  that  stagnant  water  in  confined  places,  during  hot  weather,  will,  in  a  few  days,  ex¬ 
hale  a  pestilential  vapor,  which,  if  it  does  not  generate,  will  certainly  propagate  or  throw 
into  more  extensive  circulation  dangerous  diseases  which  have  already  made  their  appear¬ 
ance.  To  prevent  an  occurrence  of  this  kind,  the  citizens  were  repeatedly  and  most  earn¬ 
estly  entreated  by  the  Health  Commissioners  to  cause  the  water  to  be  removed,  and  lime 
afterward  to  be  liberally  scattered  in  their  cellars.  Although  it  might  have  been  reasona¬ 
bly  expected,  that  a  regard  to  self-preservation  would  have  produced  a  prompt  compliance 
with  this  recommendation,  it  is  well  known  that  many  neglected  it,  and  of  those  not  a  few 
were  amongst  the  first  victims  to  the  disease.  From  this  time,  the  number  of  deaths  almost 
daily  increased. 

“  About  the  24th  of  August,  numbers  began  to  leave  the  city,  and  many  of  those  who 
had  offices  for  the  transaction  of  business  towards  the  East  river,  moved  to  Broadway, 
which  was  deemed  more  healthy.  The  customhouse,  in  Mill-street,  and  the  Insurance 
Office,  in  Water-street,  were  fixed,  for  the  time,  in  the  Tontine  City  Tavern,  in  Broadway. 

“  During  the  whole  month  of  August,  the  number  of  deaths  amounted  to  three  hundred 
and  twenty-nine.  As  particular  attention  was  not  paid  by  the  sextons,  during  this  month, 
to  distinguish  those  who  fell  victims  to  the  fever  from  those  who  had  died  of  other  disor¬ 
ders,  it  was  difficult  to  ascertain  their  precise  numbers.  It  was  believed,  however,  that  by 
fixing  it  at  one  hundred,  it  would  not  be  far  from  the  truth.  On  the  15th  of  August,  the 
deaths  were  14 — from  which  day  the  number  continued  to  progress,  so  that  on  the  1st  of 
September  they  amounted  to  23.  The  daily  averages  during  August  was  about  12. 

“  On  the  15th  of  September  the  number  of  funerals  was  38,  on  the  19th  they  were  no 
less  than  63,  and  on  each  of  the  two  following  days  they  were  reduced  to  40 — from  which 
circumstance  hopes  were  entertained  that  our  mortal  foe  was  about  to  leave  us ;  but  we 
were  again  disappointed,  for  the  next  four  days  it  kept  fluctuating  between  41  and  50,  and 
on  the  26th  rose  up  to  60.  The  total  number  of  deaths  during  this  month  was  eleven 
hundred  and  fifty-two,  of  whom  nine  hundred  and  fifty-four  died  of  fever.  The  daily  aver¬ 
age  through  the  month  was  about  38. 

“  The  number  of  the  dead  on  the  1st  of  October  was  43,  and  this  was  the  greatest  num¬ 
ber  during  the  whole  month.  On  the  18th  it  was  reduced  to  16,  and  on  the  21st  it  only 
amounted  to  9.  After  this  the  number  of  deaths  on  any  one  day,  during  the  existence  of 
the  calamity,  did  not  exceed  15 ;  and  it  is  almost  certain,  that  had  our  absent  citizens  at¬ 
tended  to  the  advice  of  the  Health  Committee,  dissuading  them  from  a  premature  return, 
the  death  warrant  of  the  disorder  might  have  been  dated  from  that  day.  The  whole  num¬ 
ber  of  funerals  in  October  was  five  hundred  and  twenty-two,  of  whom  four  hundred  and 
thirty-one  died  of  fever.  The  average  of  the  deaths,  during  this  month,  was  about  17. 

“  On  the  10th  of  November  the  deaths  were  5,  and  on  each  of  the  preceding  days  they 
were  only  4.  The  total  number  during  these  ten  days  were  83,  of  whom  thirty-nine  d;ed 
of  yellow  fever.  The  following  address  of  the  Committee  to  the  public  now  made  ita 
appearance. 


182 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


“  4  The  Health  Committee  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  indigent  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
beg  leave  to  congratulate  their  fellow-citizens,  that  under  Divine  Providence,  this  long 
afflicted  city  is  once  more  restored  to  its  usual  state  of  general  health,  and,  with  the  most 
heartfelt  pleasure,  inform  those  who  yet  remain  in  exile,  that  although  a  few  cases  of  the 
pestilential  fever  exist,  yet  that  by  the  late  cold  weather  and  frost,  the  contagion  is  so  far 
destroyed,  as  to  render  the  return  of  their  families  to  the  city  perfectly  safe,  provided  they 
take  the  necessary  previous  measures  of  cleansing  and  ventilating  their  long  unaired  dwell¬ 
ings,  and  purifying  the  bedding  and  clothing,  which  may  have  been  left  therein  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  fever. 

“  4  It  would  have  afforded  the  Committee  much  satisfaction,  could  they  have  given  this 
invitation  at  an  earlier  period,  but  they  did  not  conceive  themselves  warranted  by  the  then 
existing  circumstances.  There  have,  until  the  present  moment,  been  several  new  cases 
of  fever,  particularly  among  those  citizens  who  returned  earlier  than  the  committee  thought 
prudent,  many  of  whom  have  fallen  victims  to  the  devouring  pestilence.  This,  among 
other  circumstances,  has  induced  the  committee,  to  withhold  this  invitation  until  the  pre¬ 
sent  time,  &c.’ 

44  The  whole  number  of  deaths  during  this  awful  calamity,  was  two  thousand  and  eighty- 
six,  viz.  eleven  hundred  and  ten  men,  five  hundred  and  eighty-nine  women,  and  eight  hun¬ 
dred  and  eighty-five  children.  Of  these,  if  we  admit  that  one  hundred  died  of  the  fever  in 
August,  its  victims  would  amount  to  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-four.  A  great 
many  of  our  citizens,  too,  who  fled,  were  likewise  cut  off  by  it.  Hence  it  is  probable,  that 
the  whole  number  of  deaths  would  be  between  2,400  and  2,500.  An  awful  number  in¬ 
deed  ;  particularly  if  we  consider  that  more  than  one  third,  some  suppose  that  one  half,  of 
the  inhabitants  had  left  the  city. 

44  An  opinion  generally  prevailed,  that  the  progress  of  the  disease  varied  according  to  the 
state  of  the  atmosphere  ;  but  from  my  observations  on  this  subject,  in  the  years  1798, 1799, 
1800,  1803,  1805,  and  also  in  the  present  year,  I  am  much  inclined  to  doubt  its  accuracy. 
The  pestilence  walketh  in  darkness,  and  the  wisest  of  men,  as  yet,  know  very  little  of  the 
nature  of  its  progress.  Of  this,  however,  we  may  be  certain,  that  cool  mornings  and  even¬ 
ings,  accompanied  by  hot  days,  contribute  greatly  to  spread  infection ;  that  in  case  of  yel¬ 
low  fever  having  for  some  time  existed  in  a  city,  it  is  extremely  dangerous  for  those  who 
have  fled  to  return  to  their  houses  till  the  hard  frost  shall  set  in,  and  that  a  keen  black  frost 
has  uniformly  and  almost  instantaneously  put  an  end  to  the  further  progress  of  the  disorder.” 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  yellow  fever  in  1803,  as  given 
in  an  official  letter  by  Dr.  Miller. 

44  The  commencement  of  the  disease  took  place  about  the  20th  of  July,  and  from  that 
time,  it  continued  to  prevail,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  till  the  end  of  October.  The  num¬ 
ber  of  deaths,  in  this  city,  amounted  to  five  hundred  and  three ;  those  at  the  Hospital  of 
Bellevue,  to  one  hundred  and  three,  and  those  at  the  Marine  Hospital  on  Staten  Island,  to 
sixty-eight,  making  a  total  of  six  hundred  and  seventy-four.  To  this  should  be  added  an 
indefinite  number,  about  fifty  or  sixty,  who  fled  from  the  city,  and  died  of  this  disease  in 
the  neighboring  country  and  villages. 

44  The  first  public  alarm  arose  from  some  fatal  cases  at  the  Coffee-House  Slip,  and  in  that 
neighborhood.  About  the  same  time,  the  disease  was  discovered  in  many  other  parts  of 
the  city,  without  any  known  intercourse  or  communication  between  the  persons  who  fell 
sick.  Although  the  number  of  cases,  even  at  the  worst  periods  of  the  epidemic,  could  not 
be  pronounced  to  be  great,  especially  if  compared  with  some  preceding  seasons,  they  were 
certainly  more  generally  diffused,  and  left  fewer  parts  of  the  city  exempt  than  on  any  former 
occasions.  Broadway  and  some  of  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  town  retained  their  healthy 
character.  The  streets  lying  near  the  margins  of  the  two  rivers,  and  some  of  those  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  city,  which  are  principally  inhabited  by  indigent,  uncleanly,  and  dissolute 
classes  of  the  community,  suffered  the  worst  ravages  of  the  disease.  The  alarm  of  the  in¬ 
habitants  was  very  suddenly  produced,  and  the  suspension  of  business  and  the  desertion  of 
the  city  far  exceeded  what  had  been  ever  experienced  in  former  seasons.” 

The  following  respecting  the  yellow  fever  in  1805,  is  extracted 
from  a  letter  from  Dr.  E.  Miller  to  Gov.  Lewis. 

44  In  former  seasons,  it  has  been  usual  to  observe  sporadic  cases  ot  this  disease,  for  several 
weeks,  before  the  commencement  of  the  epidemic.  This  was  remarkably  verified  in  the 
late  season ;  and  such  cases  deserve  the  more  attention,  as  they  furnish  the  best  means  of 
calculating  the  probability  of  approaching  pestilence.  Accordingly,  one  case  ot  a  decidedly 
malignant  character  was  observed  in  the  month  of  June  ;  several  took  place  in  July  ;  a  still 
greater  number  in  August :  and  at  the  beginning  of  September,  they  had  become  so  nu 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


183 


merous  as  to  ascertain  the  existence  of  the  epidemic.  Throughout  September  and  October, 
the  disease  continued  to  prevail  with  more  or  less  severity,  according  to  the  fluctuating 
state  of  the  weather ;  but  towards  the  close  of  the  latter  month,  the  coldness  of  the  season 
had  evidently  checked  its  progress  ;  and  at  the  beginning  of  November,  the  city  was  nearly 
restored  to  its  usual  health. 

“  During  the  early  period  of  the  epidemic,  nearly  all  the  cases  took  place  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  city,  in  Front,  Water,  and  Pearl  streets,  and  principally  below  Burling-Slip. 
They  afterward  became  more  generally  diffused.  About  the  20th  of  September,  they 
began  to  prevail  near  the  North  river.  On  the  whole,  the  low  grounds  on  the  margin  of 
the  two  rivers  certainly  produced  a  chief  part  of  the  cases.  The  number  of  deaths  in  the 
city  amounted  to  about  two  hundred ;  those  at  the  Bellevue  Hospital  to  52,  and  those  in 
the  Marine  Hospital,  sent  from  the  city,  to  twenty-eight.  The  number  of  cases  of  malig¬ 
nant  fever  reported  to  the  Board  of  Health,  amounted  to  six  hundred.  It  is  proper,  like¬ 
wise,  in  estimating  the  extent  of  the  epidemic,  to  notice  an  unascertained  number,  proba¬ 
bly  about  forty,  who  after  their  flight  from  the  city  died  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 

“  The  source  of  this  disease  forms  a  most  interesting  subject  of  inquiry  ;  on  the  success 
of  which  must  depend  all  rational  and  adequate  means  of  preventing  and  eradicating  the 
evil.  After  a  long  and  careful  investigation  of  the  subject,  I  cannot»hesitate  to  conclude, 
that  a  pernicious  exhalation  or  vapovr  floating  in  the  atmosphere ,  is  the  primary  and  essen¬ 
tial  cause  of  this  disease .” 

The  yellow  fever  in  1822,  made  its  appearance  in  a  different 
quarter  from  that  in  which  it  had  commenced  its  depredations  in 
former  years.  It  had  uniformly  begun  somewhere  on  the  East  river ; 
but  now  it  was  first  seen  in  Rector-street  towards  the  North  river,  a 
part  of  the  city  which  had  been  heretofore  deemed  peculiarly  un¬ 
healthy.  The  disease  was  first  formally  noticed  by  the  Board  of 
Health  on  the  31st  of  July.  The  Board  again  met  at  12  o’clock, 
having  agreed  to  meet  every  day  at  that  hour  during  the  prevalence 
of  fever.  From  the  13th  of  July  to  the  2d  of  November,  twelve 
hundred  and  thirty-six  persons  died. 

“  On  the  same  day,  Saturday,  the  24th  August,  our  city  presented  the  appearance  of  a 
town  besieged.  From  daybreak  till  night,  one  line  of  carts,  containing  boxes,  merchandise, 
and  effects,  were  seen  moving  towards  Greenwich  Village  and  the  upper  parts  of  the  city. 
Carriages  and  hacks,  wagons  and  horsemen,  were  scouring  the  streets  and  filling  the  roads  ; 
persons  with  anxiety  strongly  marked  on  their  countenances  and  with  hurried  gait  were 
bustling  through  the  streets.  Temporary  stores  and  offices  were  erecting,  and  even  on  the 
ensuing  day  (Sunday)  carts  were  in  motion  and  the  saw  and  hammer  busily  at  work. 
Within  a  few  days  thereafter,  the  Customhouse,  the  Post-office,  the  Banks,  the  Insurance  offi¬ 
ces,  and  the  printers  of  newspapers,  located  themselves  in  the  village  or  in  the  upper  part  of 
Broadway,  where  they  were  free  from  the  impending  danger,  and  these  places  almost  in¬ 
stantaneously  became  the  seat  of  the  immense  business  usually  carried  on  in  this  great 
metropolis. 

Friday,  the  1 1  th  of  October,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  public  hu¬ 
miliation  and  prayer  on  account  of  the  pestilence. 

“  Immediately  after  the  address  of  the  Board  to  their  fellow-citizens  on  the  26th  October, 
the  absentees  began  to  return  to  their  respective  abodes  with  a  precipitation  almost  unpar¬ 
alleled.  Forty  or  fifty  carts  and  wagons  could  be  seen  in  a  line  transporting  goods,  wares, 
merchandise,  and  household  furniture  from  the  village  of  Greenwich  and  places  in  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  to  the  stores  and  houses  from  which  they  had  been  taken  several 
weeks  before.  On  the  5th  November,  the  Customhouse,  Post-office,  Banks,  Insurance 
offices,  Printing  offices,  Vendue  Masters,  Merchants,  &c.,  returned  to  their  former  habita¬ 
tions.  About  this  time,  the  places  of  worship,  which  had  been  so  long  shut,  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city,  were  re-opened,  vessels  came  to  our  docks  as  usual,  and  a  bustle  again  be¬ 
came  visible  at  the  former  places  of  trade  and  commerce.” 

In  July,  1832,  the  asiatic  cholera  made  its  appearance  in  this  city. 
The  following  table  is  extracted  from  the  New  York  Observer.  It 
includes  all  the  deaths  from  July  2d,  at  about  the  time  of  its  com¬ 
mencement,  until  Oct.  19th,  when  the  pestilence  had  almost  ceased. 


184 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


City  Inspector’s  Report.  Our  Estimate. 


Week  ending 

Burials. 

Of  Cholera. 

Deaths  by 
pestilence. 

Average  pe. 
day. 

July  7 . 

....191 . 

.  56 . 

.  81 . 

.  11 

“  14 . 

. 510 . 

. 336 . 

. 400 . 

.  57 

“  21.  . 

,....887 . 

. 716 . 

. 777 . 

. Ill 

“  28 . 

. 879 . 

. 686 . 

. 769 . 

. 110 

Aug.  4 . 

....580 . 

. 383 . 

. 470 . 

.  67 

“  11 . 

. 467 . 

. 281 . 

. 357 . 

.  51 

“  18 . 

....444 . 

. 222 . 

. 334 . 

.  48 

“  25 . 

....391 . 

. 178 . 

. 281 . 

.  40 

Sept.  1 . 

. 324 . 

. 138 . 

. 214 . 

.  30 

“  8 . 

....355 . 

. 201 . 

. 245 . 

“  15 . 

....291 . 

. 128 . 

. 181 . 

.  26 

“  22 . 

....238 . 

.  72 . 

. 128 . 

.  18 

“  29 . 

....180 . 

.  50 . 

.  70 . 

.  10 

Oct.  5 . 

. 137 . 

.  24 . 

.  27 . 

.  4 

“  12 . 

....129 . 

.  14 . 

.  19 . 

.  2 

“  19 . 

....  94 . 

.  11 . 

.  11 . 

.  2 

Total... 

...6,097 

3,496 

4,364 

The  annexed  description  of  New  York  in  1800,  was  taken  from  a 
series  of  historical  articles  relating  to  the  city,  now  being  published  in 
the  New  York  Express, . commenced  two  years  since. 

“  The  fashionable  part  of  the  city,  or  west  end  of  the  town,  was  in  Wall  and  Pine  streets, 
between  Broadway  and  Pearl, — Pearl  from  Hanover  square,  (now  part  of  Old  slip,)  to 
John-street,  along  State-street  and  a  part  of  Broadway,  below  Wall-street.  Then  the  city 
hall  was  not  built,  and  on  the  site  where  it  now  stands  was  the  rear  of  the  almshouse — the 
hog-pen  of  which  enclosed  the  ground  now  the  most  beautiful  part  of  the  Park.  The 
change  is  truly  astonishing.  In  Wall-street,  for  example,  there  now  is  but  one  family 
residing  in  the  whole  street,  and  that  is  over  a  bank.  Hardly  an  old  building  remains, 
and  not  one  that  is  not  so  altered  as  to  be  totally  different  from  what  it  was  then.  At 
the  corner  of  Nassau-street,  stood  the  venerable  Federal  hall,  since  torn  down — a  splendid 
row  of  dwellings  was  afterward  put  up,  which  were  subsequently  torn  down  to  give  place 
to  the  new  customhouse,  now  building.  Next  below  stood  the  elegant  mansion  of  Mr. 
Verplanck,  the  brick  of  which  were  brought  from  Holland,  and  in  its  stead  is  the  Bank  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  Next  was  the  residence  of  John  Keese,  now  the  Union  Bank — less 
changed  than  any  other  building.  This,  however,  on  the  first  of  May,  is  to  be  levelled  with 
the  ground,  and  a  new  banking-house  to  be  put  up.  Between  it  and  William-street  were 
the  residences  of  Francis  B.  Winthrop  and  Charles  Wilkes — in  the  place  of  which  are  the 
Dry  Dock  Bank,  and  Bank  of  America.  On  the  lot  where  the  United  States  Bank  now 
stands  was  the  elegant  mansion  of  Gen.  John  Lamb,  first  collector  of  the  port,  and  father 
of  Alderman  Lamb.  This  was  considered  not  only  the  finest  house,  but  was  believed  to 
be  the  grandest  house  that  could  be  built.  On  the  opposite  side,  where  is  now  going  up 
the  massive  new  Merchants’  Exchange,  stood  the  residence  of  Thomas  Buchanan,  Mrs. 
White,  and  William  C.  Leffingwell.  Mr.  Jauncey,  an  English  gentleman  who  lived  in 
great  style,  occupied  the  building  now  rented  by  Messrs.  Dykers  &  Alstyne — his  stable  is 
the  same  building  now  used  by  the  Board  of  Brokers.  The  very  room  in  which  millions 
of  stock  are  sold  every  week  was  then  a  hay-loft. 

“  The  watch-house  was  kept  at  the  corner  of  Broad-street,  now  used  by  Robinson  for 
the  sale  of  his  caricatures.  Baker’s  tavern,  one  of  the  most  noted  public  houses,  was  at  the 
corner  of  New-street — a  club  met  there  nightly  for  more  than  half  a  century.  Pine-street 
has  undergone  still  greater  changes, — from  Water-street  to  Broadway,  every  house  has  been 
demolished.  Then  not  a  store  was  to  be  seen.  The  old  French  church,  the  sanctuary  of 
the  Huguenots,  stood  at  the  corner  of  Nassau, — its  surrounding  burying  yard  contained  the 
ashes  of  many  of  the  most  valued  citizens.  The  Walcotts,  Jays,  Waddingtons,  Radcliffs, 
Brinkerhoffs,  Wells,  and  a  host  of  others,  resided  in  this  street,  without  a  thought  that  in 
less  than  40,  and  even  30  years,  not  one  brick  then  standing,  would  remain  on  another. 
In  Pearl-street  were  the  fashionable  residences  of  Samuel  Denton,  John  Ellis,  John  .1. 
Glover,  John  Mowett,  Robert  Lenox,  Thomas  Cadle,  John  Glendenning,  John  B.  Murray, 
Governor  Broome,  Andrew  Ogden,  Governor  George  Clinton,  Richard  Variek,  and  a  great 


NEW  YOKE  COUNTY, 


185 


number  of  others.  Nearly  all  of  these  gentlemen  are  deceased.  We  noticed  a  few  days 
since,  one  of  the  number,  Mr.  Denton,  for  a  long  time  past  a  resident  of  Tennessee.  He 
remarked  that  he  was  absolutely  a  stranger ;  knew  no  one,  and  could  hardly  identify  a  sin¬ 
gle  spot.  In  Hanover  square,  stood  a  block  of  buildings  fronting  Old  slip  and  Pearl-street. 
They  have  all  been  removed.  The  city  consisted  of  seven  wards,  now  increased  to  seven¬ 
teen.” 


View  of  the  City  Hall ,  New  York. 


The  city  hall*  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  buildings  in  New 
York,  standing  near  the  centre  of  the  park,  an  area  of  about  four 
acres.  Situated  in  this  spacious  area,  it  is  seen  to  great  advantage 
in  every  direction. 

“  The  building  is  of  a  square  form,  two  stories  in  height,  besides  a 
basement  story.  It  has  a  wing  at  each  end,  projecting  from  the  front, 
and  in  the  centre  the  roof  is  elevated  to  form  an  attic  story.  The 
whole  length  of  the  building  is  216  feet,  the  breadth  105,  and  the 
height  51  feet.  Including  the  attic  story,  it  is  65  feet  in  height.  The 
front  and  both  ends,  above  the  basement  story,  are  built  of  native 
white  marble,  from  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts ;  and  the  rest  of  the 
building  is  constructed  of  brown  freestone.  The  roof  is  covered 
with  copper,  and  there  is  a  balustrade  of  marble  entirely  round  the 
top.  Rising  from  the  middle  of  the  roof,  is  a  cupola,  on  which  is 
placed  a  colossal  figure  of  Justice,  holding  in  her  right  hand,  which 
rests  on  her  forehead,  a  balance,  and  in  her  left,  a  sword  pointing  to 
the  ground.  Justice  is  not  blindfold,  as  she  is  represented  in  Europe. 

“  There  are  four  entrances  to  the  building  ;  one  in  front,  one  in  the 


*  The  above  engraving  was  copied  from  a  drawing  taken  some  years  ago.  Since  then, 
the  cupola  has  been  slightly  altered,  and  a  clock  placed  in  it.  A  small  cupola  has  also 
I  been  added  in  the  rear,  on  which  hangs  the  city  fire-bell.  The  city  is  divided  into  five  fire 
districts,  and  when  there  is  a  fire  the  particular  district  in  which  it  is  located  is  indicated  by 
the  number  of  times  which  the  bell  tolls.  For  instance,  when  it  is  in  the  first  it  tolls  once, 
in  the  second,  twice  in  succession,  and  so  on,  excepting  in  the  fifth,  which  is  indicated  by 
a  continual  tolling. 


21 


186 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


rear,  and  one  in  each  end.  The  front,  which  is  the  principal,  is  on 
the  first  story,  to  which  there  is  access  by  a  flight  of  12  marble  steps, 
rising  from  which  there  are  16  columns  supporting  a  portico  imme¬ 
diately  over  the  entrance,  also  composed  of  marble.  In  the  centre 
of  the  rear  of  the  building,  there  is  a  projecting  pediment.  The  en¬ 
trance  in  this  quarter  is  also  on  the  first  story,  by  a  flight  of  freestone 
steps.  The  first  story,  including  the  portico,  is  of  the  Ionic,  the  second 
of  the  Corinthian,  the  attic  of  the  Fancy,  and  the  cupola  of  the  Com¬ 
posite  orders. 

“  The  foundation  stone  of  this  building  was  laid  on  26th  Septem¬ 
ber,  1803,  during  the  mayoralty  of  Edward  Livingston,  Esq.,  and  at 
a  time  when  the  yellow  fever  prevailed  in  the  city.  It  was  finished 
in  1812,  and  the  expense,  exclusive  of  the  furniture,  amounted  to  half 
a  million  of  dollars.” 

“  Fifty  dollars,”  says  the  New  York  Express,  “  were  appropriated 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner-stone. 
These  were  the  times  when  expenses  of  this  sort  were  dealt  out 
with  a  most  sparing  hand.  No  corporation  dinners  were  allowed 
and  two  to  three  thousand  dollars  expended.  When  the  corner¬ 
stone  was  laid,  and  long  after,  the  long  building  now  standing  on 
Chamber-street,  and  in  which  various  courts  are  held,  was  the  alms¬ 
house.  The  paupers  of  that  day  numbered  less  than  four  hundred  ; 
now,  our  Bellvue  establishment  has  more  inmates  than  the  number 
of  many  of  our  most  flourishing  cities.  Three  to  four  thousand  are 
the  permanent  inhabitants  of  the  almshouse,  besides  quadruple  that 
number  who  receive  temporary  relief  from  the  commissioners.  The 
space  between  the  almshouse  and  city  hall,  was  then  a  pig-pen,  and 
contained  hundreds  of  pigs,  fattened  by  the  wash  of  the  almshouse, 
debtor’s  prison,  and  bridewell.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  hall  is  mainly 
built  of  marble ;  the  first  design  was  that  the  whole  should  be  built 
of  that  material.  At  that  time,  marble  was  high,  and  it  was  desira¬ 
ble  to  make  a  saving.  It  was  maintained  that  the  population  would 
never,  to  any  extent,  settle  above  Chamber-street,  and  therefore,  as 
the  rear  of  the  hall  would  not  be  seen,  it  was  concluded  to  build  the 
same  of  red  freestone;  This  accounts  for  the  difference  between  the 
front  and  rear.” 

The  following  shows  the  Egyptian  building,  embracing  the  halls  of 
justice,  as  it  appears  frontihg  Centre-street.  The  police  courts  are 
held  here  at  all  hours  of  the  day ;  the  justices  relieving  each  other 
in  their  sittings.  This  place  may  be  considered  as  the  head-quarters 
of  the  police  officers  or  constables,  who  are  constantly  seen  going 
after,  and  returning  with  criminals  of  every  grade,  from  the  genteel 
and  accomplished  rascal,  to  his  brother  in  crime,  the  coarse  and  bru¬ 
tal  villain.  Perhaps  in  no  other  part  of  the  country  are  seen  such 
degraded  and  disgusting  exhibitions  of  fallen  humanity,  as  in  this 
place.  Here  many  culprits  of  both  sexes  are  literally  dragged  up 
to  the  tribunal  of  justice.  While  some  are  making  complaints,  others 
are  being  “examined,”  “sentenced,”  “ bound  over,”  or  “ reprimand¬ 
ed,”  as  the  case  may  be.  While  this  is  going  on,  the  officers  may 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


187 


Southern  view  of  the  Halls  of  Justice ,  Centre-street. 


be  seen  leading  off'  some  to  the  prisons,  or  tombs ,  (as  they  are  famil¬ 
iarly  called,)  in  another  part  of  the  building.  The  court  of  sessions 
is  held  in  an  adjoining  part  of  the  building,  at  which  the  recorder 
presides. 

“  This  edifice  now  occupies  the  whole  of  the  block  bounded  by 
Leonard,  Elm,  Franklin,  and  Centre  streets,  (formerly  the  corpora¬ 
tion  yard,)  and  is  253  feet  3  inches  in  length,  by  200  feet  5  inches 
in  width. 

“  The  interior  combines  accommodations  for  the  courts  of  sessions, 
police,  grand  jury,  house  of  detention,  records,  city  watch,  district 
attorney,  sheriff,  clerk  of  the  court,  and  other  officers  belonging  to 
the  different  branches  of  the  institution,  together  with  the  necessary 
offices  for  cooking,  washing,  watering,  warming,  &c.  The  whole 
designed  by  Mr.  John  Haviland. 

“  The  four  facades,  as  well  as  the  entrance  hall,  are  executed  in 
the  Egyptian  style  of  architecture,  with  Hallowell  granite. 

“  The  principal  front  has  a  distyle  portico  of  four  columns,  with 
palm-leaved  capitals.  Above  the  capitals  are  square  dies,  upon 
which  rests  the  architrave,  ornamented  with  a  large  winged  globe 
encircled  by  serpents.  The  architrave  is  surmounted  by  a  cornice, 
composed  of  a  bold  Scotia,  enriched  with  reeded  Triglyphs  and  a 
banded  Torus  ;  and  which,  being  of  the  same  height  with  that  of  the 
similarly  embellished  wings,  forms  with  them  one  continued  line. 
Moreover,  the  banded  moulding  of  the  cornice  descends  in  the  form 
of  a  roller  on  all  the  external  angles  of  the  edifice.  Both  the  wings 
are  perforated  with  five  lofty  windows,  extending  the  height  of  two 
stories,  and  finished  with  diminished  pilasters,  which  support  a  cor¬ 
nice  over  each,  composed  simply  of  a  bold  Scotia,  enriched  with  a. 
winged  globe  and  serpents. 

“  The  lateral  fronts  on  Leonard  and  Franklin  streets  have  each 
two  projecting  pylones  or  porches,  wifh  two  columns ;  the  one  on 
Leonard-street  adjoining  the  principal  front,  is  the  entrance  to  the 


188 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


debtors’  ward,  and  the  opposite  one  on  Franklin-street  is  the  entrance 
to  the  police  ward ;  the  other  two  corresponding  porches  next  to 
Elm-street,  form  the  carriage  entrance  to  the  house  of  detention. 
These  porches  are  54  feet  wide,  and  their  columns  and  entablatures 
correspond  with  those  of  the  principal  front,  but  the  caps  and  shafts 
of  the  columns  are  less  enriched.  The  recess  in  both  these  lateral 
fronts  is  six  feet,  and  is  relieved  by  five  windows  corresponding  in 
character  with  those  of  the  principal  front,  but  of  less  proportion  and 
enrichment,  the  Scotia  being  finished  with  reeded  Triglyphs  only, 
instead  of  the  wfinged  globe  and  serpents.  The  approach  to  the 
windows  on  these  fronts  is  guarded  against  by  a  neat  railing  in  keep¬ 
ing  with  the  architecture.  The  rear  or  front  on  Elm-street  having 
no  entrance  or  windows,  is  simply  relieved  by  seven  narrow  recesses 
in  imitation  of  embrasures,  and  a  railing  in  the  same  style  as  those 
on  the  lateral  fronts. 

“  A  terrace  surrounds  the  whole  enclosure,  raised  ten  feet  above  the 
level  of  Centre-street,  from  which  you  ascend  eight  steps  of  a  trun¬ 
cated  and  pyramidal  form,  to  the  platform  of  the  portico,  from  which 
you  ascend  also  twelve  steps,  between  the  intercolumniation  of  the 
rear  columns  to  the  entrance  hall.  This  hall  is  50  feet  square  and 
25  feet  high,  supported  by  eight  columns,  ranged  between  two  rows 
with  their  antce  placed  on  the  opposite  walls.  These  columns  bear 
the  character  or  an  order  taken  from  the  colonnade  of  the  temple  of 
Medynet  Abou.  Attached  to  the  antes  opposite  these  columns,  the 
architect  originally  designed  to  place  the  Egyptian  caviatides,  so 
highly  spoken  of  by  the  French  artists  in  Napoleon’s  great  work  on 
Egypt,  published  by  Pauckonche ;  and  he  feels  assured  that  the 
Board  will  yet  be  of  his  opinion,  and  finally  adopt  these  splendid  and 
imposing  figures  in  this  entrance  hall,  as  nothing  else  will  be  wanting 
to  perfect  the  edifice ;  their  capitals  are  ornamented  with  the  leaves 
and  flowers  of  the  Lotus.  The  floors  are  arched  and  laid  in  mosaic 
of  an  Egyptian  character,  governed  in  form  by  the  compartments  in 
the  ceiling  to  which  each  belongs. 

“  The  principal  courts,  jury,  witness,  and  other  business  rooms,  are 
connected  with,  and  lead  ipto  the  entrance  hall.  On  the  left  side 
are  doors  and  passages  communicating  with  the  grand  jury  room, 
offices  for  register,  clerk  of  the  court,  district  attorney,  and  sheriff, 
debtors’  ward  and  witness’  rooms  ;  and  on  the  right  side  are  disposed 
the  magistrates’  offices,  court,  and  witness’  rooms,  watchmen’s  dor¬ 
mitories,  police  court,  officers’  rooms,  and  cells  for  nightly  commit¬ 
ments.  The  centre  leads  to  the  court  of  sessions,  (including  two  jury 
rooms,  and  separate  gallery  capable  of  containing  an  audience  of 
300  persons  ;)  the  whole  well  ventilated  and  lighted,  and  in  a  situa¬ 
tion  the  least  liable  to  be  disturbed  by  the  noise  of  the  adjoining  streets. 

“  The  house  of  detention  is  a  distinct  and  isolated  building,  142 
feet  in  length  by  45  in  width.  It  contains  148  cells,  divided  into  four 
distinct  classes  for  prisoners,  including  baths,  and  rooms  for  male  and 
female,  white  and  black  vagrants.  The  lower  cells  are  6  feet  9 
inches  wide,  feef  high,  and  15  feet  long,  diminishing  18  inches  in 


NEW  YORK  COUNT V. 


ISO 


length  in  each  story  ;  they  are  provided  with  cast-iron  water  closets, 
hydrant,  water  cock,  ventilators,  and  are  warmed  by  Perkins’  hot 
water  pipes,  (introduced  and  now  in  successful  operation  in  the  new 
penitentiaries  at  Philadelphia  and  Trenton,  by  J.  Haviland,  architect.) 
The  floors,  and  ceilings,  and  galleries  are  formed  of  slabs  from  the 
North  river  flagging ;  the  doors  and  window  jambs  of  iron  ;  and  the 
entire  cells  are  otherwise  finished  on  the  most  approved  plan  for  se¬ 
curity,  seclusion,  ventilation,  economy  of  supervision  and  watching. 
The  corridors  are  ten  feet  wide  below,  and  widen  at  each  story  to 
19  feet  at  the  summit,  affording  a  free  ventilation  and  uninterrupted 
view  of  every  cell  door,  from  the  observatory.  A  bridge  leads  across 
from  the  house  of  detention  to  the  prisoners’  seat  in  the  courthouse. 
By  reference  to  the  specifications  and  drawings,  it  will  be  seen  that 
every  part  of  the  building  is  calculated  to  be  executed  in  the  most 
substantial  and  approved  manner,  with  the  best  materials  of  their 
kind :  and  that  no  pains  or  expense  is  spared  to  effect  all  the  desired 
objects  of  the  institution,  with  the  aid,  experience,  and  best  talent 
that  the  country  affords. 

“  The  building  is  generally  fire-proof  by  ceilings  and  floors  of 
arched  masonry. 

“  The  site  on  which  the  building  is  erected,  is  formed  of  made 
ground,  every  precaution  having  been  used  to  render  the  foundation 
secure  by  the  introduction  of  iron  ties,  inverted  arches,  and  heavy 
timbering.  The  whole  area  was  excavated  several  feet  below  the 
water  level,  large  timbers  were  placed  together,  and  range  timbers 
at  right  angles  with  these  laid  several  feet  wider  than  the  respective 
walls. 

“This  edifice  was  commenced  in  1836,  and  finished  during  the 
summer  of  1838.” — New  York  in  1840. 


View  of  the  Penitentiary  on  BlackwelVs  island. 


The  above  is  a  view  of  the  penitentiary  on  Blackwell’s  island, 
about  four  miles  NE.  of  the  city  hall.  It  is  an  immense  stone  edifice, 
recently  erected,  partly  by  convicts.  The  main  building  is  four  stories 
high,  surmounted  by  a  square  tower ;  the  two  wings,  each  extend¬ 
ing  upwards  of  200  feet  from  the  centre  building,  are  also  four  stories 
high.  The  interior  is  fitted  up  with  rooms  for  the  accommodation* 
of  the  keepers,  workshops  in  which  the  prisoners  are  obliged  to  labor, 


190 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


and  numerous  cells ;  the  whole  being  constructed  in  the  most  sub¬ 
stantial  and  secure  manner.  Bridewell  is  situated  at  Bellvue,  being 
part  of  the  building  now  used  as  the  female  penitentiary.  Criminals 
convicted  of  petit  larceny,  &c.,  are  confined  here ;  also  prisoners 
before  trial.  The  house  of  refuge  is  situated  about  2?  miles  N.  of 
the  city  hall,  and  is  under  the  control  of  the  *  Society  for  the  Re¬ 
formation  of  Juvenile  Delinquents.’  It  was  incorporated  in  1825. 

“  Banks. — There  are  now  in  the  city  of  New  York  twenty-three 
incorporated  banks,  with  an  aggregate  capital  of  $20,361,200.  There 
are  also  incorporated  in  the  state  of  New  York  seventy-five  other 
banks,  with  an  aggregate  capital  of  $16,740,260,  making  in  all  ninety- 
eight  banks,  with  a  total  capital  of  $37,101,468.  All  but  eight  of  the 
above  banks  are  subject  to  the  Safety  Fund  Act ;  the  exceptions  are 
the  Manhattan,  Dry  Dock,  Fulton,  North  River,  and  Chemical  banks, 
in  the  city  of  New  York ;  the  Long  Island  Bank,  Brooklyn ;  Com¬ 
mercial  Bank,  Albany ;  and  Bank  of  Rochester,  in  the  city  of  Roch¬ 
ester.  The  Safety  Fund  now  amounts  to  $500,000,  which  is  the 
maximum  provided  by  law.  This  fund  was  created  by  an  annual 
tax  upon  the  Safety  Fund  Banks,  and  in  case  of  the  failure  of  any 
one  or  more  of  them,  it  is  liable  to  be  drawn  on  for  the  deficit. 

“  The  banks  are  open  every  day  in  the  year,  from  10  A.  M.  to  3 
P.  M.,  except  Sundays,  Christmas  day,  New  Year’s  day,  the  Fourth 
of  July,  and  general  holidays  appointed  by  legal  authority,  and  the 
Bank  of  New  York  on  Good  Fridays.  In  1851,40bks,  cap.  35  mills. 

“  The  rate  of  discount  is  6  per  cent,  per  annum,  (calculating  360 
days  to  the  year,)  excepting  when  notes  have  over  60  days  to  run. 
Three  days’  grace  are  allowed  on  all  notes,  and  the  discount  taken 
for  the  same.  When  notes  have  over  60  davs  to  run,  the  banks  have 
the  privilege  of  charging  7  per  cent.”  In  1851,  209  Imks.  in  the  State. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  great  fire  in  1835,  by  which  it 
is  estimated  that  about  twenty  millions  worth  of  property  was  de¬ 
stroyed. 

“  One  of  the  most  alarming  and  destructive  fires  ever  known  in  this  hemisphere,  broke 
out  on  Wednesday  evening,  December  16th,  1835,  in  the  premises  of  Messrs.  Crawford  & 
Andrews,  situate  No.  95  Merchant-street,  in  this  city,  which  in  a  short  time  raged  with 
such  intensity  as  to  defy  the  exertions  of  the  firemen,  and  others,  who  with  equal  zeal  and 
prompitude  were  quickly  on  the  spot  for  the  purpose  of  stopping  its  ravages.  The  inutility 
of  all  aid  was,  however,  soon  perceptible,  and  all  that  could  be  done,  was  to  remove  what 
could  in  haste  be  got  together,  to  such  places  as  were  deemed  beyond  the  reach  of  the  de¬ 
vouring  element.  With  this  impression,  an  immense  quantity  of  goods  were  placed,  for 
safety  from  buildings  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  fire,  in  the  Merchants’  Exchange  and 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  where  it  was  presumed  they  would  remain  free  from  danger : 
alas  !  the  futility  of  human  speculation ;  but  a  short  time  had  elapsed  from  the  time  of  such 
deposit  to  the  whole  being  enveloped  in  flames,  and  these  splendid  buildings  were  soon 
reduced  to  a  heap  of  ashes.  The  power  of  man  was  fruitlessly  employed  in  attempts  to 
stay  its  impetuosity,  which  every  minute  increased  in  the  most  alarming  manner,  spreading 
in  all  directions,  and  causing  the  utmost  dismay  and  consternation  through  the  whole  city 
Any  attempt  to  convey  to  the  mind  a  faithful  description  of  the  awfully  grand  scene  that  pre¬ 
sented  itself  to  the  view  of  those  who  were  witnesses  of  this  dreadful  catastrophe,  must  ot 
necessity  be  very  feeble. 

“  The  morning  of  the  17th  of  December,  1835,  opened  upon  New  York  with  a  scene 
of  devastation  around,  sufficient  to  dismay  the  stoutest  heart.  The  fine  range  of  buildings 
and  splendid  stores  in  Exchange  place,  Merchant-street,  and  all  the  adjoining  streets  down 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


191 


to  the  river,  lay  literally  levelled  to  the  earth,  with  their  contents  ccusumed ;  the  Mer¬ 
chants’  Exchange  and  Post-office  entirely  destroyed — the  whole  one  heap  of  smoking  ruins. 

“  A  tolerably  correct  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  devastation  may  be  formed  from  the  fol¬ 
lowing  account,  which  appeared  the  next  morning  in  the  Courier  and  Enquirer. 

“  South-street  is  burned  down  from  Wall-street  to  Coenties  slip.  Front-street  is  burned 
down  from  Wall-street  to  Coenties  slip.  Pearl-street  is  burned  down  from  Wall-street  to 
Coenties  alley,  and  was  there  stopped  by  blowing  up  a  building.  Stone-street  is  burned 
down  from  William-street  to  No.  32  on  the  one  side  and  No.  39  on  the  other.  Beaver- 
street  is  burned  down  half  way  to  Broad-street.  Exchange  place  is  burned  down  from 
Hanover-street  to  within  three  doors  of  Broad-street;  here  the  flames  were  stopped  by 
blowing  up  a  house.  William-street  is  burned  down  from  Wall-street  to  South-street,  both 
sides  of  the  way.  Market-house  down.  Wall-street  is  burned  down  on  the  south  side, 
from  William-street  to  South-street,  with  the  exception  of  51,  53,  65,  57,  59,  61,  opposite 
this  office.  All  the  streets  and  alleys  within  the  above  limits  are  destroyed. 

“  The  following  will  be  found  a  tolerably  accurate  statement  of  the  number  of  houses  and 
stores  now  levelled  with  the  ground :  26  on  Water-street,  37  on  South-street,  80  on  Front- 
street,  62  on  Exchange  place,  44  on  William-street,  16  on  Coenties  slip,  3  on  Hanover 
square,  20  on  Gouverneur’s  lane,  20  on  Cuyler’s  alley,  79  on  Pearl-street,  76  on  Water- 
street,  16  on  Hanover-street,  31  on  Exchange-street,  33  on  Old  slip,  40  on  Stone-street, 
23  on  Beaver-street,  10  on  Jones’  lane,  38  on  Mill-street ; — Total,  674. 

“  Six  hundred  and  seventy-four  tenements.  By  far  the  greater  part  in  the  occupacy  of 
our  largest  shipping  and  wholesale  drygoods  merchants,  and  filled  with  the  richest  products 
of  every  portion  of  the  globe.  How  estimate  the  immense  loss  sustained,  or  the  fearful 
consequences  to  the  general  prosperity  ? 

“  Of  the  Merchants’  Exchange  nothing  but  its  marble  walls  remain  standing. 

“Three  or  four  vessels  lying  at  the  wharves  on  South-street  were  slightly  injured  in  their 
yards  and  rigging.  They  were  all  hauled  out  into  the  river  as  soon  as  practicable. 

“  A  detachment  of  marines  from  the  navy-yard  under  Lieut.  Reynolds,  and  of  sailors 
under  Capt.  Mix  of  the  navy,  arrived  on  the  spot  at  two  o’clock  in  the  morning.  They 
rendered  most  valuable  service.  The  gunpowder  brought  from  the  magazine  at  Red  hook 
was  partly  under  their  charge. 

“  The  cold  during  the  whole  time  was  excessive  ;  the  thermometer  at  zeio.  It  may  be 
easily  supposed  that  this  greatly  paralyzed  the  exertion  of  the  firemen.  One  sank  under 
its  effects,  and  was  with  difficulty  resuscitated. 

“  Two  companies,  with  their  engines,  arrived  here  from  Newark,  and  rendered  very 
material  assistance. 

“  The  passengers  in  the  steamboat  coming  down  the  river,  saw  the  flames  from  the 
Highlands,  forty-five  miles  distant,  and  such  was  the  violence  of  the  gale,  during  the  preva¬ 
lence  of  the  fire,  that  burning  embers  were  carried  across  the  East  river  to  Brooklyn  and 
set  fire  to  the  roof  of  a  house  there,  which  was  however  speedily  extinguished. 

“  Strong  bodies  of  cavalry  and  volunteer  infantry  were  patrolling  the  streets  near  the  fire, 
and  preserved  perfect  order  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  depredations.”  * 

Columbia  college,  (formerly  King’s  college,)  is  situated  on  a  beau¬ 
tiful  square  between  Murray,  Barclay,  Church,  and  Chapel  streets, 
in  the  city  of  New  York.  It  was  established  under  a  royal  charter 
in  1754,  which  has  been  confirmed  by  various  acts  of  the  legislature 
since  the  revolution. 

“  There  are  two  literary  societies  connected  with  the  college, 
composed  of  students  and  graduates— viz,  the  Peithologian  and  the 
Philolexian  societies. 

“  There  is  also  connected  with  the  college,  a  grammar  school, 
subject  to  the  control  of  the  trustees,  and  under  the  direction  of  Pro¬ 
fessor  Anthon,  as  rector.  The  school  is  composed  of  upwards  of 
200  hundred  scholars,  and  instruction  is  given  in  all  branches  neces¬ 
sary  for  admission  into  any  college,  or  for  the  counting-house. 

“  Eight  instructers  are  constantly  employed,  besides  one  teacher  in 
French,  one  in  Spanish,  and  one  in  German  and  Italian.  There  is 
also  a  primary  school  attached  to  this  institution,  in  which  boys  from 
five  to  ten  years  are  prepared  for  the  more  advanced  classes. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


192 


.  View  of  the  Customhouse,  Wall-street. 


“  By  a  statute  of  Columbia  college,  the  corporation  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  the  trustees  of  the  New  York  Public  School  Society,  the 
trustees  or  directors  of  the  Clinton  Hall  Association,  of  the  Mercantile 
Library  Association,  and  of  the  Mechanic  and  Scientific  Institutions, 
the  General  Society  of  Mechanics  and  Tradesmen,  and  such  other 
societies  as  the  board  of  trustees  may  from  time  to  time  designate, 
are  each  entitled  to  have  always  two  students  educated  in  the  college 
free  of  all  charges  of  tuition.  Every  religious  denomination  in  the 
city  is  also  entitled  to  have  one  student,  who  may  be  designed  for  the 
ministry,  educated  free  of  all  charges.  And  every  school,  from 
which  there  shall  be  admitted  in  any  one  year  into  the  college  four 
students,  have  the  privilege  of  sending  one  scholar,  to  be  educated 
gratuitously.  In  order  to  give  effect  to  the  privilege  in  regard  to 
the  common  schools  in  the  city,  twelve  scholars  at  one  time  receive 
gratuitous  instruction  in  the  grammar  school  preparatory  to  their 
entering  the  college.” 

The  above  is  a  view  of  the  new  customhouse  as  seen  from  Wall- 
street.  This  structure  surpasses  any  building  of  its  size  in  the 
world,  both  in  the  beauty  of  its  design  and  the  durability  of  its  con¬ 
struction.  It  is  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram,  200  feet  long,  by  90 
wide ;  and  about  80  feet  in  height  from  the  bottom  of  the  foundation 
wall  to  the  top.  Brick,  granite,  and  marble  are  used  in  the  construc¬ 
tion;  all  the  inside  walls  are  of  brick,  with  the  exception  of  those  in  the 
rotunda,  which  are  of  marble.  The  steps  and  stairs  throughout  are 
of  a  light-colored  granite,  employed  for  the  sake  of  durability.  At 
the  extremity  of  the  entrance  hall  is  the  rotunda,  or  large  circular 
apartment  to  be  used  as  the  collector’s  office.  This  is  a  most  splen¬ 
did  room  ;  the  roof  is  supported  by  16  beautiful  marble  columns,  high¬ 
ly  polished  with  Corinthian  capitals,  30  feet  high,  and  2  feet  8  inches 
in  diameter.  The  diameter  of  the  rotunda  is  60  feet  in  the  clear, 
and  80  feet  in  the  recesses.  The  largest  blocks  of  marble  used  in 


’1 


STATUE  OF  GEORGE  III, 

Demolished  on  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  Hew  York,  1776. 


INAUGURATION  OF  WASHINGTON, 

In  the  gallery  of  Federal  Hall,  New  York,  30th  April,  1789. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


193 


the  building  weigh  thirty-three  tons.  The  marble  slabs  for  the  roof 
weigh  300  or  400  pounds,  and  lap  over  each  other  eight  inches  with 
an  upper  and  an  under  lip,  to  allow  of  the  expansive  power,  and  to 
keep  out  the  least  particle  of  water.  The  entire  outside  of  this 
splendid  edifice  is  of  marble,  with  the  exception  of  the  granite  steps. 
There  is  not  a  particle  of  wood  work  in  any  part  of  the  building, 
and  it  is  probably  the  only  structure  in  the  world  that  has  been  erect¬ 
ed  so  entirely  fire-proof.  This  elegant  edifice  was  commenced  in 
May,  1834,  and  finished  in  May,  1841.  The  cost,  ground  inclusive, 
was  $1,175,000 — building  alone,  $950,000.  The  architect  is  Mr. 
John  Frazee,  and  it  will  probably  remain  for  ages  a  monument  of  his 
skill. 

The  number  of  officers  employed  in  the  customhouse  is  354,  of 
whom  nearly  200  are  inspectors.  The  amount  of  duties  received  for 
the  last  three  years  has  been  as  follows,  viz : — 


1838  . $10,494,055  34 

1839  .  13,970,332  49 

1840  .  7,557,441  36 


The  old  city  or  Federal  Hall  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  Cus¬ 
tomhouse.  It  was  in  its  gallery  on  Wall-street,  on  April  30th,  1789, 
that  George  Washington  was  inaugurated  the  first  President  of  the 
United  States.  The  annexed  account  of  this  ceremony  is  from  Sparks’ 
Life  of  Washington  : — 

“  A  committee  of  congress,  consisting  of  three  members  of  the 
Senate  and  five  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  was  appointed  to 
meet  him  in  New  Jersey  and  attend  him  to  the  city  of  New  York. 
To  Elizabethtown  Point  came  many  other  persons  of  distinction,  and 
the  heads  of  the  several  departments  of  government.  He  was  there 
received  in  a  barge,  splendidly  fitted  up  for  the  occasion,  and  rowed 
by  thirteen  pilots  in  white  uniforms.  This  was  followed  by  vessels 
and  boats,  fancifully  decorated,  and  crowded  with  spectators.  When 
the  President’s  barge  came  near  to  the  city,  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns 
was  fired  from  the  vessels  in  the  harbor,  and  from  the  battery.  At  the 
landing  he  was  again  saluted  by  a  discharge  of  artillery,  and  was 
joined  by  the  governor  and  other  officers  of  the  state,  and  the  cor¬ 
poration  of  the  city.  A  procession  was  then  formed,  headed  by  a 
long  military  train,  which  was  followed  by  the  principal  officers  of 
the  state  and  city,  the  clergy,  foreign  ministers,  and  a  great  con¬ 
course  of  citizens.  The  procession  advanced  to  the  house  prepared 
for  the  reception  of  the  President.  The  day  was  passed  in  festivity 
and  joy,  and  in  the  evening  the  city  was  brilliantly  illuminated. 

“  The  first  public  act  of  the  President  was  that  of  taking  the  oath 
of  office.  It  was  decided  by  congress,  that  this  should  be  done  with 
some  ceremony.  In  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed,  April  30th, 
at  9  o’clock,  religious  services  suited  to  the  occasion  were  performed 
in  all  the  churches  of  the  city.  At  twelve  the  troops  paraded  before 
the  President’s  door,  and  soon  afterward  came  the  committees  of 
congress  and  the  heads  of  departments  in  carriages,  to  attend  him  to 
the  Federal  Hall,  where  the  two  houses  of  congress  were  assembled. 

25 


194 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


The  procession  moved  forward  with  the  troops  in  front,  next  the 
committees  and  heads  of  departments,  then  the  President  in  a  coach 
alone,  followed  by  the  foreign  ministers,  civil  officers  of  the  state,  and 
citizens.  Arrived  at  the  hall,  he  ascended  to  the  senate  chamber, 
and  passed  thence  to  a  balcony  in  front  of  the  house,  where  the  oath 
was  administered  to  him  in  presence  of  the  people  by  Chancellor 
Livingston.  The  President  returned  to  the  senate  chamber,  in  the 
midst^of  loud  acclamations  from  the  surrounding  throng  of  spectators, 
and  delivered  to  the  two  branches  of  congress  his  inaugural  speech. 
He  then  went  on  foot  to  St.  Paul’s  church,  where  prayers  were  read 
by  the  bishop,  and  the  ceremonies  were  closed.  Tokens  of  joy  were 
everywhere  exhibited,  as  on  the  day  of  his  arrival,  and  at  night  there 
was  a  display  of  illuminations  and  fire-works.” 


Merchant' s  Exchange,  Wall-street. 


This  structure,  now  erecting  and  nearly  completed,  is  in  part  on 
the  site  of  the  Exchange  building  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  of  De¬ 
cember,  1835,  and  embraces  all  the  ground  between  William  and  Wall 
streets,  Exchange  place,  and  Hanover-street,  covering  the  entire  block. 
The  dimensions  are  198  feet  on  Wall-street,  171  on  William-street, 
144  on  Hanover-street,  and  196  feet  on  Exchange  place.  It  is  77  feet 
high  to  the  top  of  the  cornice,  and  124  feet  from  the  foundation  wall 
to  the  top  of  the  dome. 

The  building  when  finished  will  be  of  the  Grecian  Ionic  style  of 
architecture,  the  exterior  of  which  will  be  constructed  of  blue  Quin¬ 
cy  granite,  in  the  most  chaste  and  durable  manner.  In  front,  on 
Wall-street,  will  be  a  recessed  portico,  with  18  massive  columns,  38 
feet  in  height.  The  process  of  quarrying  is  curious.  The  quarry  is  in 
in  the  side  of  a  hill ;  the  ends  of  a  block  of  granite  are  cleared,  a  row  of 
holes  are  drilled  in  a  straight  line,  wedges  are  inserted,  and  an  enormous 
piece  of  stone  weighing  from  300  to  400  tons  is  thus  wedged  off  with 
ease.  Each  of  the  columns  for  the  portico  weigh  about  90  tons  in 
the  rough,  and  five  men  with  a  simple  apparatus  draw  it  out  of  the 
quarry  in  two  or  three  days  to  the  place  where  the  workmen  stand 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY 


195 


View  of  the  New  York  University. 


ready  to  hammer-dress  it.  The  fair  market  price  of  one  of  these 
columns  is  $6,000  ;  but  the  Exchange  company  pay  only  $3,000  for 
them,  delivered  in  New  York.  These  columns  with  but  one  excep¬ 
tion,  (that  of  a  church  at  St.  Petersburg,)  are  the  largest  in  the  world, 
being  38  feet  in  height,  and  4  feet  4  inches  in  diameter ;  and  each  of 
the  columns,  including  the  base,  cap,  and  shaft,  weighs  43  tons.  The 
exchange  room  or  rotunda  is  a  most  magnificent  apartment,  in  the  cen¬ 
tre  of  the  building.  The  height  of  it  to  the  spring  of  the  dome  is  51 
feet,  and  above  this  the  dome  is  30  feet  high ;  the  whole  to  be  sur¬ 
mounted  by  a  lantern  sky-light  37  feet  diameter,  and  6  feet  high.  The 
floor  is  to  be  of  fine  marble — its  diameter  is  80  feet  in  the  clear,  and 
J00  feet  in  the  recesses,  forming  an  area  of  7000  square  feet,  which 
it  is  estimated  will  hold  3000  persons.  The  dome  is  partly  support¬ 
ed  by  eight  polished  Italian  marble  columns  with  Corinthian  capitals, 
executed  in  Italy ;  these  are  41  feet  in  height,  iqcluding  the  cap  and 
base,  and  4  feet  8  inches  in  diameter.  There  will  also  be  many  rooms 
for  the  accommodation  of  public  and  private  offices,  so  constructed 
as  to  be  entirely  fire-proof,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Isaiah 
Rogers,  the  architect  of  the  building.  The  cost  of  the  structure  will 
be  about  $2,000,000. 

The  above  is  a  view  of  the  New  York  University,  built  in  the  col¬ 
legiate  gothic  style,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Washington  square. 
This  institution  was  chartered  in  1831,  and  opened  for  the  reception 
of  students  in  1832.  The  number  of  students  in  1840  was  364. 

“  This  building  has  just  been  completed,  after  a  labor  of  several 
years  ;  it  is  one  hundred  feet  wide,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet 
long.  In  front  this  oblong  is  divided  into  five  parts — a  central  build¬ 
ing,  with  wings  flanked  by  towers,  ope  rising  on  each  of  the  four 
corners  of  the  edifice.  This  central  building  or  chapel  is  superior  to 
the  rest  in  breadth,  height,  and  character ;  and  is  somewhat  similar 
to  that  of  King’s  college,  Cambridge,  England ;  a  masterpiece  of 


196 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


pointed  architecture,  and  the  model  for  succeeding  ages.  It  is  fifty- 
five  feet  broad,  and  eighty-five  feet  deep,  including  the  octangular 
turrets,  one  of  which  rises  at  each  of  the  four  corners.  The  two 
ends  are  gabled,  and  are,  as  well  as  the  sides,  crowned  with  an  em¬ 
battled  parapet.  The  chapel  will  receive  its  principal  light  from  a 
window  in  the  western  end.  This  window  is  twenty-four  feet  wide, 
and  fifty  high.  It  has  eight  lights  and  two  embattled  transoms.  The 
heads  of  the  lights  are  cinque-foiled  in  a  plain  arch,  and  the  divisions 
above  are  quatre-foiled.  Over  the  head  of  the  window  is  a  drip¬ 
stone,  with  plain  returns.  From  the  central  building,  or  chapel,  wings 
project  right  and  left,  and  are  four  stories  in  height,  flanked  by  towers 
of  five,  supported  by  angular  buttresses  of  two  stages,  running  above 
an  embattled  parapet,  and  are  at  the  top  themselves  embattled.  The 


New  York  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb. 


windows  in  the  wings  have  square  heads,  with  two  lights,  a  plain 
transom,  and  the  upper  division  tre-foiled.  The  heads  of  the  win¬ 
dows  are  labelled,  and  have  plain  returns.  The  lower  range  of  win¬ 
dows  is  set  on  a  tablet,  which  serves  as  a  base,  and  the  two  ranges 
above  are  set  on  strings,  which  return  around  the  turrets,  and  stop 
against  the  buttresses.  The  principal  entrance  is  under  the  great 
western  window,  through  a  richly  moulded  and  deeply  recessed 
portal,  flanked  by  buttresses  of  two  stages,  the  upper  stage  set  di¬ 
agonally.  and  rising  above  an  embattled  parapet.  The  doors  are  of 
oak,  richly  pannelled,  and  filled  with  tracery  of  open  work,  closely 
studded  with  bronze.” 

“  The  New  York  Institution  for  the  instruction  of  the  deaf  and 
dumb,  was  incorporated  in  1817,  and  commenced  operations  under  its 
charter,  by  opening  a  school  for  the  reception  of  pupils  on  the  12th 
day  of  May,  1818.  Until  the  spring  of  1829,  the  school  was  held  in 
the  building  now  called  the  new  City  Hall.  At  that  time  the  pupils 
were  transferred  to  a  large  building  erected  for  the  purposes  of  the 
institution,  on  Fiftieth-street  and  the  Fourth  Avenue,  three  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  City  Hall.  Communication  between  the  institution 
and  the  city  is  rendered  very  easy,  by  the  cars  which  pass  on  the 
Harlasm  railroad,  (Fourth  Avenue.)  every  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes 
in  both  directions. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


197 


“  The  principal  building  occupied  for  the  purposes  of  the  institution, 
is  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  by  sixty,  in  the  dimensions  of  its  plan, 
and  five  stories  in  height,  including  the  basement.  It  accommodates, 
with  some  inconvenience,  the  number  of  pupils  which  the  institution 
embraces  at  present,  with  the  teachers,  the  family  of  the  principal, 
and  such  other  persons  as  are  needed  to  assist  in  conducting  the  affairs 
of  the  establishment. 

“  The  original  charter  of  the  institution  being  about  to  expire  by 
limitation  on  the  first  day  of  April,  1837,  it  was  extended  by  the  le 
gislature,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years. 

“  The  number  of  pupils  who  were  members  of  the  institution  in 
1840,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-two.  One  hundred  and  fourteen  of 
these  are  supported  at  the  expense  of  the  state  of  New  York,  six 
at  the  expense  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  twelve  by  the  city  au¬ 
thorities,  one  by  the  supervisors  of  the  county  of  Dutchess,  twelve 
by  the  funds  of  the  institution,  and  the  rest  by  their  parents  or  friends.” 

The  New  York  institution  for  the  blind. — This  institution  contains 
about  fifty  blind  pupils,  who,  in  addition  to  the  school  exercises,  are 
employed  in  making  baskets,  mats,  rugs,  carpeting,  and  in  braiding 
palm-leaf  hats.  They  are  also  taught  instrumental  and  vocal  music. 

The  New  York  Historical  Society ,  established  in  1809,  by  private 
contribution  and  legislative  assistance,  possesses  a  library  of  about 
10,000  volumes,  valuable  manuscripts,  coins,  &c.  The  Stuyvesant 
Institute  was  organized  in  1834,  for  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  by 
means  of  popular  lectures,  to  establish  a  cabinet  of  natural  history, 
library,  &c.  The  American  Lyceum ,  for  the  promotion  of  education, 
was  founded  in  1831.  The  New  York  Society  Library  was  estab¬ 
lished  in  1754,  and  has  35,000  volumes.  The  Apprentices’  Library 
was  established  by  the  General  Society  of  Mechanics  and  Trades¬ 
men  in  1821,  and  has  about  12,000  volumes. 

The  Mercantile  Library  Association. — This  noble  institution  was  es¬ 
tablished  in  1821,  since  which  time  it  has  gone  on  gradually  and 
steadily  increasing,  until  it  now  numbers  3,500  members,  and  a  splen¬ 
did  library  of  22,500  volumes,  with  an  annual  income  of  about  $8,000. 
Connected  with  the  library  are  extensive  reading-rooms,  which  are 
supplied  with  all  the  principal  American  and  foreign  periodicals. 
Lectures  are  regularly  given  by  those  distinguished  in  the  various 
departments  of  science  or  literature.  Classes  are  also  formed  for 
instruction,  and  the  facilities  here  given  at  a  trifling  expense  to  the 
clerk  for  acquiring  a  finished  mercantile  education,  are  unequalled 
perhaps  by  any  similar  institution  in  the  world. 

The  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  was  formed  in  1807,  by 
the  legislature  of  New  York,  at  the  recommendation  of  the  regents 
of  the  University,  by  whose  immediate  government  it  is  controlled. 
The  New  York  Eye  Infirmary  was  founded  in  1820;  since  this 
period  about  17,000  persons  have  for  a  longer  or  shorter  period  been 
under  the  care  of  the  surgeons  of  this  institution.  The  New  York 
Hospital  was  founded  in  1771,  by  the  earl  of  Dunmore,  the  governor 
of  the  colony.  This  institution  has  an  annual  revenue  from  various 


198 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


sources  of  about  $68,000,  the  larger  portion  of  which  is  annually 
expended.  The  Bloomingdale  Asylum  for  the  insane  is  pleasantly 
situated  near  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  river,  distant  7  miles  from  the 
city,  and  has  attached  to  it  40  acres  of  land,  laid  out  in  gardens, 
pleasure  grounds,  &c.,  well  adapted  for  the  unfortunate  inmates. 

The  American  Academy  of  Fine  Arts ,  in  Barclay-street,  was  incor¬ 
porated  in  1808.  Napoleon,  while  first  consul,  presented  Mr.  Liv¬ 
ingston,  our  ambassador  to  France,  with  a  valuable  collection  of 
casts,  engravings,  &c.,  for  this  institution,  which  may  be  seen  by  the 
public  during  the  season  of  exhibition.  The  National  Academy  of 
Design  was  instituted  in  1826.  It  is  enriched  with  many  produc¬ 
tions  of  American  art.  It  has  professorships  of  Painting,  Anatomy, 
Sculpture,  and  Mythology. 

The  number  of  churches  in  1851  was  two  hundred  and  thirty-three, 
named  in  the  annexed  list. 


Presbyterian . 

Methodist . 

Unitarian . 

Congregationalist . 

...  9 

Catholic . 

. 20 

Jews . 

Dutch  Reformed . 

,.  ..,18 

friends . 

. 4 

New  Jerusalem . 

Episcopalian . . 

Lutheran . 

. 6 

Moravian . 

Baptist . 

Universalist . 

. 4 

Miscellaneous . 

Gothic  ( late  Masonic)  Hall,  Broadway. 

1841. 

This  building,  lately  the  head-quarters  of  the  Whig  party  in  this 
city,  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway,  about  60  rods  north  of 
the  Park.  The  foundation  was  commenced  on  St.  John’s  day,  24th 
June,  1826;  when  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  all  due  ceremony 
by  the  craft,  in  presence  of  thousands  of  citizens.  It  was  finished  in 
the  subsequent  year ;  the  whole  cost  being  $50,000.  The  building 
has  lately  undergone  some  alterations  internally,  and  the  name  been 
changed  to  that  of  Gothic  Hall. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


199 


View  of  Tammany  Hall *  and  the  adjoining  buildings. 

Dec.,  1840. 


The  above  shows  the  appearance  of  Tammany  Hall  and  the  adja¬ 
cent  buildings  as  they  appear  from  the  southern  wing  of  the  City 
Hall.  Tammany  Hall  has  acquired  considerable  celebrity  from 
being  the  head-quarters  of  the  democratic  party.  The  other  build¬ 
ings  seen  on  this  block  are  mostly  newspaper  establishments :  “  The 
Sun,”  “New  Era,”  “Brother  Jonathan,”  the  “  Tattler,”  and  some 
others  are  published  here.  The  office  of  the  Sun,  a  daily  paper,  is 
on  the  corner  of  the  block.  This  is  the  oldest  penny  paper  in  the 
city,  having  been  commenced  towards  the  close  of  1833,  on  a  medium 
sheet,  by  Day  and  Wisner.  Two  or  three  months  afterward  the 
Transcript  was  begun  of  the  same  size,  by  Hayward,  Lynde,  and 
Stanley.  The  Herald,  by  J.  G.  Bennet,  was  the  next  living  penny 
publication:  it  was  started  in  1835.  The  New  Era,  by  Locke  and 
Price,  followed  in  1836.  From  5,000  to  30,000  copies  of  some  of  the 
penny  papers  are  sold  daily.  A  large  proportion  of  these  go  into  the 
hands  of  those  who  take  no  other  paper ;  and  who,  were  it  not  for  their 


*  This  name  is  derived  from  an  Indian  chief  or  saint,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been 
alive  as  late  as  the  year  1680.  Mr.  Heckwelder,  in  his  History,  says  that  all  that  is  known 
of  him  is  “  that  he  was  a  Delaware  chief,  who  never  had  his  equal.  The  fame  of  this 
great  man  extended  even  among  the  whites,  who  fabricated  numerous  legends  respecting 
him,  which  I  never  heard,  however,  from  the  mouth  of  an  Indian,  and  therefore  believe  to 
be  fabulous.  In  the  revolutionary  war,  his  enthusiastic  admirers  dubbed  him  a  saint,  and 
he  was  established,  under  the  name  of  St.  Tammany ,  the  patron  saint  of  America.  His 
name  was  inserted  in  some  calendars,  and  his  festival  celebrated  on  the  first  day  of  May  in 
every  year.  On  that  day  a  numerous  society  of  his  votaries  walked  together  in  procession 
through  the  streets  of  Philadelphia,  their  hats  decorated  with  bucks’  tails,  and  proceeded  to 
a  handsome  rural  place  out  of  town,  which  they  called  the  wigwam;  where,  after  a  long 
talk,  or  Indian  speech  had  been  delivered,  and  the  calumet  of  peace  and  friendship  had 
been  duly  smoked,  they  spent  the  day  in  festivity  and  mirth.” 


200 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


cheapness,  would  be  destitute,  in  a  great  measure,  of  correct  informa¬ 
tion  respecting  public  events.  It  is  estimated  that  about  620,000 
newspapers  are  issued  in  the  city  every  week,  and  in  the  course  of 
the  year  upwards  of  thirty-two  millions. 


The  Battery,  and  Castle  Garden. 


“  The  Battery. — This  beautiful  promenade  is  situated  at  the  south¬ 
west  end  of  the  island,  and  junction  of  the  North  and  East  rivers, 
and  possesses  attractions  unsurpassed,  perhaps,  by  any  other  similar 
place  of  resort  in  the  world,  justly  commanding  the  admiration  of 
every  visiter.  It  is  in  full  view  of  the  bay  and  surrounding  scenery 
of  Long  Island,  Staten  Island,  New  Jersey,  and  the  islands  in  the 
harbor.  From  no  one  point  can  a  better  idea  be  formed  of  the  mag¬ 
nitude  of  the  commerce  of  the  city ;  the  numerous  ships,  steam¬ 
boats,  and  small  vessels,  that  are  constantly  entering  and  departing 
from  the  port,  forming  a  scene  of  stirring  interest.  Of  the  bay  itself, 
we  deem  it  appropriate  in  this  place  to  quote  the  language  of  a  late 
English  tourist. 

“  ‘  I  have  never  seen  the  bay  of  Naples,  I  can  therefore  make  no 
comparison  ;  but  my  imagination  is  incapable  of  conceiving  any  thing 
more  beautiful  than  the  harbor  of  New  York.  Various  and  lovely 
are  the  objects  which  meet  the  eye  on  every  side ;  but  the  naming 
them  would  only  be  to  give  a  list  of  words,  without  conveying  the 
faintest  idea  of  the  scene.  I  doubt  if  even  the  pencil  of  Turner  could 
do  it  justice,  bright  and  glorious  as  it  rose  upon  us.  We  seemed  to 
enter  the  harbor  of  New  York  upon  waves  of  liquid  gold  ;  and  as 
we  dashed  past  the  green  isles  which  rise  from  its  bosom  like  guar¬ 
dian  sentinels  of  the  fair  city,  the  setting  sun  stretched  his  horizontal 
beams  further  and  further,  at  each  moment,  as  if  to  point  out  to  us 
some  new  glory  in  the  landscape.’ 

“  The  Battery  extends  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  from 
the  termination  of  Broadway,  Greenwich,  and  Washington  streets,  on 
the  northwest,  to  Whitehall-street,  on  the  east,  covering  an  area  of 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


201 


nearly  1 1  acres,  and  laid  out  in  grass-plots  and  gravel  walks,  shaded 
with  trees.  The  exterior,  fronting  the  harbor,  is  built  up  with  hewn 
stone ;  and  on  this  side  is  a  paved  walk,  with  stone  posts  connected 
with  a  neat  open  railing.  An  expensive  iron  railing,  with  gateways, 
extends  along  the  interior  front.” 

“  Originally  this  point  of  land  was  fortified  by  the  Dutch,  who 
threw  up  embankments,  upon  which  they  placed  some  pieces  of 
cannon.  4  In  process  of  time,’  says  Knickerbocker,  4  it  came  to  be 
pleasantly  overrun  by  a  verdant  carpet  of  grass  and  clover,  and 
their  high  embankments  overshaded  by  wide-spreading  sycamores, 
among  whose  foliage  the  little  birds  sported  about,  rejoicing  the  ear 
with  their  melodious  notes.  The  old  burghers  would  repair  of  an 
afternoon  to  smoke  their  pipes  under  the  shade  of  their  branches, 
contemplating  the  golden  sun,  as  he  gradually  sunk  in  the  west,  an 
emblem  of  that  tranquil  end  towards  which  themselves  were  hasten¬ 
ing  ;  while  the  young  men  and  the  damsels  of  the  town  would  take 
many  a  moonlight  stroll  among  these  favorite  haunts,  watching  the 
chaste  Cynthia  tremble  along  the  calm  bosom  of  the  bay,  or  light  up 
the  white  sail  of  some  gliding  bark,  and  interchanging  the  honest 
vows  of  constant  affection.  Such  was  the  origin  of  that  renowned 
walk,  the  Battery,  which  though  ostensibly  devoted  to  the  purposes 
of  war,  has  ever  been  consecrated  to  the  sweet  delights  of  peace : 
The  favorite  walk  of  declining  age  ;  the  healthful  resort  of  the  feeble 
invalid  ;  the  Sunday  refreshment  of  the  dusty  tradesman  ;  the  scene 
of  many  a  boyish  gambol ;  the  rendezvous  of  many  a  tender  assigna¬ 
tion  ;  the  comfort  of  the  citizen  ;  the  ornament  of  New  York,  and 
the  pride  of  the  lovely  island  of  Mannahatta.’  ” 

44  Castle  Garden. — On  a  mole,  connected  with  the  Battery  by  a 
bridge,  is  situated  Castle  Garden,  originally  erected  for  a  fortification, 
and  used  for  that  purpose  until  1823,  when  it  was  ceded  by  the 
United  States  to  the  corporation  of  this  city,  since  which  it  has  been 
leased  for  a  place  of  public  amusement  or  recreation.  On  the  top  of 
the  walls,  a  walk,  covered  by  an  awning,  has  been  constructed,  from 
whence  a  fine  view  of  the  harbor  and  adjacent  scenery  is  obtained. 
Within  the  walls  over  ten  thousand  people  may  be  accommodated, 
and  concerts  and  fireworks  are  occasionally  given.” 

44  Vauxhall  Garden — Is  situated  near  the  junction  of  the  Bowery 
and  Broadway,  fronting  on  the  former,  and  is  at  present  a  place  of 
great  resort  in  summer.  On  the  evenings  of  public  days,  fireworks 
and  other  entertainments  are  exhibited ;  but  by  the  late  improve¬ 
ments  in  that  part  of  the  city,  particularly  by  the  extension  of  Lafay¬ 
ette  place  through  the  garden,  its  dimensions  have  been  much  les¬ 
sened. 

Niblo’s  Garden — Is  one  of  the  most  fashionable  places  of  resort 
in  the  city,  during  the  summer  months.  It  has  been  laid  out  with 
great  taste,  and  when  open  to  the  public,  is  handsomely  lighted,  and 
decorated  with  paintings,  mirrors,  &c.  The  walks  are  bordered 
with  shrubbery  and  flowers  in  great  variety.  Fireworks  are  occa- 

26 


202 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


sionally  exhibited ;  and  in  the  saloon,  which  is  a  very  tasteful  an< 
airy  building,  theatrical  and  musical  entertainments  are  given.” 

“  American  Museum. — This  excellent  institution  was  founded  in 
1810,  by  the  late  John  Scudder,  by  whose  arduous  efforts,  and  the 
persevering  exertions  of  its  more  recent  proprietors,  it  has  arose  to 
its  present  high  standing.  It  continues  daily  to  improve  in  every  de¬ 
partment,  by  extensive  and  valuable  additions  of  the  works  of  nature 
and  artificial  curiosities,  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  Its  immense 
collections  are  well  arranged  and  beautifully  displayed  in  four  spa¬ 
cious  saloons,  each  one  hundred  feet  in  length  ;  in  addition  to  which 
another  apartment  has  recently  been  added  of  still  larger  dimensions. 
The  Grand  Cosmorama  of  this  establishment  is  truly  a  most  splendid 
affair,  which  for  extent  of  glasses  and  magnificence  of  views,  is  not 
surpassed  in  this  or  any  other  country.  The  views  embrace  a  great 
variety  of  subjects,  and  were  all  executed  expressly  by  Italian  artists 
of  eminence  in  their  profession.  No  labor  or  expense  has  been 
spared  to  render  this  establishment  well  deserving  a  continuance  of 
that  liberal  and  distinguished  patronage  it  has  always  received. 
The  building  is  very  high,  and  from  its  observatory  may  be  enjoyed 
some  of  the  finest  views  in  the  city,  and  of  the  beautiful  bay  and  sur¬ 
rounding  country.  The  halls  are  well  warmed  and  ventilated,  and 
at  evening  brilliantly  lighted  with  gas,  altogether  forming  a  very  in¬ 
viting,  agreeable  lounge,  and  at  the  same  time,  a  place  for  serious 
contemplation  and  amusement,  to  those  who  delight  in  the  study  of 
the  wonderful  works  of  nature. 

“  Peale’s  Museum  and  Gallery  of  Fine  Arts. — This  establish¬ 
ment  was  founded  in  the  year  1825,  and  has  increased  with  aston¬ 
ishing  rapidity.  It  contains  four  spacious  apartments,  which  are 
arranged  in  the  following  order:  The  1st  contains  specimens  of 
Natural  History  in  all  its  branches,  and  its  beauty  of  arrangement, 
and  the  exquisite  style  in  which  the  articles  are  mounted,  renders  it 
one  of  the  most  interesting  places  of  public  amusement  in  the  country. 
The  2d  is  a  large  and  valuable  collection  of  Paintings,  by  eminent 
artists,  amongst  which  may  be  particularly  mentioned  a  Portrait  of 
Napoleon,  by  Le  Fevre  ;  a  Magdalen,  by  Le  Bron,  together  with 
Portraits  of  at  least  150  celebrated  citizens  and  foreigners.  The  3d 
contains  a  very  superior  Cosmorama,  several  Wax  Figures  of  good 
workmanship,  Fossils,  Shells,  Minerals,  and  Miscellaneous  Curiosities.” 

There  are  five  theatres  in  the  city,  viz :  Park  Theatre,  Bowery, 
Chatham,  Little  Drury,  and  Olympic.  The  National  Theatre  was 
burnt  down  the  present  year,  (1841.) 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  periodical  publications  issued  in  the 
city  of  New  York. 

“  Quarterly  publications. — Literary  and  Theological  Review, 
Naval  Magazine,  New  York  Review  and  Quarterly  Church  Journal, 
New  York  Quarterly  Magazine,  Quarterly  Anti-Slavery  Magazine, 
Quarterly  Christian  Spectator,  Tailors’  Magazine,  United  Brethren’s 
Missionary  Intelligencer. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY, 


203 


“Monthly  publications. — American  Monthly  Magazine,  Anti- 
Slavery  Record,  Children’s  Magazine,  Home  Missionary  and  Pastor’s 
Journal,  Human  Rights,  Journal  of  the  American  Institute,  Knicker¬ 
bocker  Magazine,  Ladies’  Companion,  La  Revue  Francais,  (French) 
Mechanics’  Magazine,  Missionary  Herald,  Mothers’  Magazine,  Mer¬ 
chants’  Magazine,  National  Preacher,  New  York  Farmer  and  Amer¬ 
ican  Gardner’s  Magazine,  Parley’s  Magazine,  Sailor’s  Magazine, 
Sunday  School  Visiter,  Tract  Magazine,  YoutlPs  Friend,  Family 
Magazine. 


View  of  the  Astor  House,  Broadway. 

This  splendid  hotel,  furnished  with  magnificence  and  taste,  corres¬ 
ponding  to  its  grandeur  and  simplicity,  is  the  largest  in  the  country, 
if  not  in  the  world.  It  was  erected  by  John  Jacob  Astor,  at  an  ex¬ 
pense  of  about  a  million  of  dollars,  and  opened  May  31st,  1836.  It 
is  built  of  Quincy  granite,  in  a  style  remarkably  massive,  simple,  and 
chaste,  fronts  201  feet  on  Broadway,  di^pctly  opposite  the  park,  154 
on  Barclay-street,  and  146i  on  Vesey-street.  It  is  77  feet  in  height. 
The  dining-room  on  Barclay-street  is  100  feet  by  40,  and  19£  high. 
The  house  contains  at  times  about  500  persons,  and  the  basement  is 
distributed  into  stores  ;  and  thus  the  establishment  forms  of  itself,  like 
the  Palais  Royal  of  Paris,  an  almost  independent  colony. 

The  annexed  account  of  the  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal,  Octo'ber 
20th,  1825,  and  the  celebration  of  the  event  in  New  York  city,  is  ex¬ 
tracted  from  newspapers  published  at  the  time. 

“  The  canal  connecting  the  great  lakes  of  North  America  with  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  is 
finished.  On  Wednesday,  at  10  o’clock,  A.  M.,  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  were  admitted  at 
Buffalo,  and  the  first  boat  from  the  lake  commenced  its  voyage  to  New  York.  This  joyful 
event  was  announced  to  the  citizens  of  the  state  by  the  roar  of  cannon  planted  in  a  contin¬ 
ued  line  along  the  banks  of  the  canal  and  of  the  Hudson,  at  intervals  of  about  eight  miles, 
and  extending  from  Buffalo  to  Sandy  Hook,  a  distance  of  a|rout  544  miles.  The  cannon 
were  fired  in  succession,  commencing  at  Buffalo  at  the  moment  of  the  entrance  of  the  boat 
into  the  canal,  and  the  intelligence  thus  communicated,  reached  this  city  precisely  at  twenty 
minutes  past  eleven  o’clock,  at  which  time  a  national  salute  was  fired  from  the  battery,  and 
this  acknowledgement  that  we  had  received  the  intelligence  was  then  immediately  returned 
by  the  same  line  of  cannon  to  Buffalo.  Thus  the  work  is  finished ;  the  longest  canal  in 


204 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


the  world  is  completed,  and  completed  in  the  short  space  of  eight  years,  by  the  single  state 
of  New  York,  a  state  which  seventy  years  ago  was  a  wilderness,  thinly  peopled  by  a  little 
more  than  100,000  souls.” 

CANAL  CELEBRATION. 

“  The  splendid  exhibition  in  honor  of  the  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal  took  place  on 
Friday  of  last  week,  Nov.  4th.  For  several  days  previous,  strangers  from  every  part  of  the 
surrounding  country  had  been  crowding  into  the  city  to  witness  the  interesting  event.  The 
day  was  remarkably  pleasant,  and  favorable  for  the  display.  The  following  account 
of  the  ceremonies  which  took  place  is  from  the  Daily  Advertiser : — 

“  The  Societies. — The  procession  formed  agreeably  to  arrangement,  and  about  half-past 
ten,  moved  do^n  the  west  side  of  Greenwich-street  to  the  battery,  where  it  wheeled  and 
passed  up  the  east  side  of  Greenwich-street,  &c.,  in  the  following  order : 

“  At  the  head  were  four  buglemen  on  horseback,  who  preceded  the — Agricultural  and 
Horticultural  Societies,  many  of  whose  members  wore  nosegays. — The  Journeymen  Tai¬ 
lors. — The  Butchers,  mounted  and  wearing  aprons,  with  the  banners  of  their  society,  and  2 
cars,  each  drawn  by  4  horses.  The  first  was  covered  with  a  roof,  decorated,  and  contained 
a  calf  and  a  sheep  ;  the  other  a  fine  white  ox  and  4  large  sheep,  and  over  it,  on  a  second 
stage,  a  stuffed  ox,  with  several  butchers’  boys. — The  Tanners’  boys. — The  Tanners  had  a 
car  drawn  by  four  horses,  in  which  were  several  men  at  work  tanning  and  currying  leather, 
with  hides  hanging  overhead.  The  Skinners  followed  with  a  banner,  and  then  came 
another  banner  with  four  horses,  where  a  number  of  morocco  dressers  were  at  work  on 
skins  of  all  colors. — The  Cordwainers  had  also  a  car  drawn  by  4  horses,  on  which  were  6 
or  8  men  seated  at  their  benches,  making  shoes. — The  Hatters’  Society  had  a  large  banner 
with  a  portrait  of  St.  Clement,  and  a  car  drawn  by  six  horses,  containing  a  shop,  in  which 
eight  men  were  at  work  at  the  kettle,  and  others  employed  in  the  different  operations  of 
hat-making.  A  great  number  of  small  banners  succeeded,  bearing  the  names  of  the 
western  Lakes,  great  and  small,  and  those  of  the  principal  towns  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state  and  country ;  24  boys  marching  under  the  banners  bearing  ‘  Washington,’  the  ‘  United 
States  of  America,’  and  a  portrait  of  Gov.  Clinton,  represented  the  states  of  the  Union. 
In  a  barouche  rode  the  two  oldest  hatters  and  journeymen  hatters  in  the  city.  Banner — 
‘  The  heart  is  devoted  to  our  country.’ — The  Bakers,  with  white  hats. — The  Journeymen 
Masons  came  next,  and  then  the  Coopers,  with  a  car  in  which  men  were  at  work  on  bar¬ 
rels,  &c. — The  Chairmakers  had  a  large  chair  over  their  banner,  with  two  eagles  following, 
one  large  and  gilt,  with  a  miniature  chair  in  his  mouth. — The  Potters  came  next,  and  then 
the  Saddlers,  with  a  pair  of  horses  in  harness,  and  3  fine  white  ones  with  ladies’,  gentle¬ 
men’s,  and  military  saddles,  all  of  the  most  superb  workmanship.  The  horses  were  led  by 
blacks  in  rich  Moorish  costumes — the  insignia,  implements,  &c.,  followed,  with  a  rocking- 
horse  saddled  and  bridled. — The  Shipwrights  had  the  model  of  a  line  of  battle  ship,  mount¬ 
ed  on  wheels,  and  drawn  by  eight  horses.  The  officers  and  crew  were  represented  by  boys 
in  gay  dresses,  and  flags  and  ensigns  were  hoisted  on  board.  A  banner  bore  ‘  Commerce  is 
ours ;’  and  a  great  number  of  others  succeeded,  on  which  were  the  names  of  our  distin¬ 
guished  naval  commanders. — The  B»at-builder’s  Association  had  a  model  of  a  boat  borne 
by  a  carrier,  and  another  drawn  by  horses.  A  car  drawn  by  four  horses,  contained  two 
half-finished  bopts  of  considerable  size,  at  which  the  workmen  were  employed,  while 
smoke  was  coming  from  the  chimney  where  they  warped  their  plank  and  timber. — The 
Rope-makers  had  a  ropewalk,  in  which  a  number  of  men  and  boys  were  employed  in  spin¬ 
ning  and  laying,  all  drawn  by  four  horses. — The  Comb-makers  had  also  a  shop,  and  men  at 
work,  &c.,  and  after  them  came  the  General  Society  of  Mechanics ;  the  Cabinet-makers 
with  specimens  of  furniture,  and  the  Apprentices’  Library  Association. — The  New  York 
Fire  Department  was  represented  by  eight  companies,  Nos.  20,  42,  15,  13,  41,  32,  7,  and 
4,  with  their  engines,  and  several  hook  and  ladder  companies,  with  their  implements  raised 
aloft,  and  handsomely  decorated. — The  Printers’  Society  had  a  car  drawn  by  horses,  on 
which  were  mounted  two  presses.  These  were  kept  in  operation,  striking  off  copies  of 
an  Ode,  which  were  distributed  to  the  people  from  the  car. — The  Book-binders  had  a  large 
volume  bound  in  red  morocco  and  gilt,  labelled  ‘  Erie  Canal  Statistics.’ — After  a  full  band 
of  musicians  in  dresses  of  scarlet  and  gold,  came  the  members  of  Columbia  College,  dress¬ 
ed  in  their  Academic  gowns ;  and  then  a  great  number  of  military  officers,  and  soldiers 
from  the  different  city  companies,  followed  by  the  Society  of  Free  Masons. — The  Tin  Plate 
Workers  had  a  car  drawn  by  four  gray  horses,  with  a  model  of  some  of  the  locks  on  the 
canal, — a  Canal  boat,  barge,  &c.,  made  of  tin. 

“  Aquatic  Procession. — At  eight  o’clock  the  citizens  were  seen  crowding  in  all  directions 
on  board  the  various  steamboats  which  were  announced  to  compose  the  fleet  which  was  to 
proceed  tQ  the  ocean.  The  steamboat  Washington,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Bunker, 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


205 


took  the  lead,  on  board  of  which  the  Hon.  the  Corporation,  with  the  society  of  Cincinnati, 
the  Rev.  Clergy,  of  all  denominations,  the  Army  and  Naval  officers — all  the  consuls  of 
Foreign  nations — the  judges  of  all  our  courts  and  many  other  citizens  and  strangers  were 
guests.  The  steamboats  Fulton,  James  Kent,  Chancellor  Livingston,  and  several  others 
were  also  employed  by  the  corporation  to  receive  other  guests,  all  which  were  filled  with 
our  most  distinguished  citizens — The  safety  barges  Lady  Clinton  and  Lady  Van  Rensse 
laer,  were  most  tastefully  festooned  with  evergreens  and  flowers,  and  were  exclusively  ap 
propriated  to  the  ladies.  At  about  10  o’clock  the  signal  was  given  for  departure,  and  the 
boats  all  proceeded  up  the  East  river,  and  formed  in  a  line,  accompanied  by  the  canal  boats, 
when  they  wore  round  and  proceeded  down  the  bay.  As  the  fleet  passed  the  Battery  they 
were  saluted  by  the  military,  the  revenue  cutter,  and  the  castle  on  Governor’s  Island.  As 
they  proceeded,  they  were  joined  by  the  ship  Hamlet,  which  had  previously  been  dressed 
for  the  occasion  with  the  flags  of  all  nations,  and  on  board  of  which  were  the  Marine  and 
Nautical  societies,  composed  of  all  our  most  respectable  shipmasters.  As  the  fleet  passed 
the  Narrows,  they  were  saluted  by  Forts  Lafayette  and  Tompkins.  They  then  proceeded 
to  the  United  States  schooner  Dolphin,  moored  within  Sandy  Hook,  where  Gov.  Clinton 
went  through  the  ceremony  of  uniting  the  waters,  by  pouring  that  of  Lake  Erie  into  the 
Atlantic ;  upon  which  he  delivered  the  following  address : — 

“  ‘  This  solemnity  at  this  place  on  the  first  arrival  of  vessels  from  Lake  Erie,  is  intended 
to  indicate  and  commemorate  the  navigable  communication,  which  has  been  accomplished 
between  our  Mediterranean  seas  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  in  eight  years,  to  the  extent  of 
more  than  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  by  the  wisdom,  public  spirit,  and  energy  of 
the  people  of  the  state  of  New  York  ;  and  may  the  God  of  the  Heavens  and  the  earth  smile 
most  propitiously  on  the  work,  and  render  it  subservient  to  the  best  interests  of  the  human 
race.’  Dr.  Mitchell  then  poured  the  contents  of  several  vials,  which  he  stated  contained 
the  waters  of  the  Elbe,  &c.  &c.,  and  delivered  a  long  address,  but  the  crowd  was  so  great 
that  but  few  were  able  to  hear  any  part  of  it.  The  Hon.  Mr.  Colden  presented  to  his  honor 
the  Mayor,  a  memoir  which  contains  a  brief  history  of  the  canal  from  its  commencement 
to  the  present  day.  Salutes  were  then  fired  from  the  revenue  cutter,  the  pilot  boats,  and 
several  of  the  steamboats,  and  the  procession  returned  to  the  city. 

“  On  the  return  from  the  excursion  to  Sandy  Hook,  the  atmosphere  was  nearly  clear,  and 
the  appearance  of  the  steamboats  was  truly  magnificent.  Here  were  26  of  these  vessels, 
splendidly  equipped  and  decorated,  moving  in  the  most  majestic  manner,  all  crowded  with 
passengers,  and  arranged  in  the  most  striking  order.  The  packet  ship  Hamlet,  which  was 
generously  offered  by  Capt.  Chandler  for  the  use  of  the  Marine  and  Nautical  societies,  made 
a  splendid  appearance,  towed  along  in  the  line  by  steamboats,  with  her  masts  and  rigging 
decorated  by  a  fine  display  of  flags  of  all  nations. 

“  Persons  abroad  may  judge  of  the  splendor  of  the  celebration,  when  it  is  stated  that 
there  were  displayed  among  the  different  societies,  upwards  of  200  banners  and  standards 
— many  of  them  extremely  splendid,  and  a  large  number  painted  expressly  for  the  occasion. 

“  It  is  with  pleasure  we  state  that  the  two  British  packets  now  at  anchor  in  our  port,  sa¬ 
luted  and  cheered  the  line  of  steamboats  as  they  passed ;  instances  of  good  feeling  of  this 
description  should  not  be  omitted  to  be  recorded.  The  band  in  return  played  ‘  God  save 
the  king.’  The  whole  line  of  steamboats  landed  their  passengers  at  3  o’clock,  in  time  for 
them  to  form  and  join  the  procession  of  their  fellow-citizens. 

“  The  festivities  were  concluded  by  fireworks  in  the  evening,  at  the  Battery,  City  Hall, 
and  Vauxhall  Garden,  and  by  illuminations  of  some  of  the  principal  buildings  in  the  city, — 
the  City  Hall,  City  Hotel,  Theatre,  Sikes’  Hotel,  &c.  A  large  transparency  was  exhibited 
at  the  City  Hall,  representing  the  introduction  of  Neptune  to  the  Lady  of  the  Lakes  by 
the  Genius  of  America. 

“We  cannot  help  expressing  our  gratification,  at  observing  among  the  thousands  we  saw 
in  the  streets  during  the  day  and  evening,  hardly  a  single  instance  of  intoxication,  and  not 
one  of  unpleasant  disturbance ;  and  so  far  as  we  could  learn,  no  accident  happened  to  mar 
the  festivities  of  the  day.” 

Croton  Aqueduct. — This  great  work,  designed  for  the  supply  of  the  city  of  New  York 
with  pure  and  wholesome  water,  is  at  present  constructing.  Its  whole  length  is  40 ^  miles. 
It  is  a  long  brick  vault  stretching  from  Croton  to  New  York,  descending  at  the  rate  of 
nearly  14  inches  to  the  mile.  Its  dimensions  are  about  6  feet  at  bottom,  7  feet  at  top,  and 
from  8  to  10  feet  in  height.  The  foundation  is  of  stone,  well  laid,  and  the  interstices  filled 
up  with  rubble,  and  over  this  a  bed  of  concrete  composed  of  cement,  broken  stone  and 
gravel,  in  due  proportions,  well  mixed  and  combined  together,  except  where  the  earth  is 
of  a  compact  and  dry  consistence,  when  the  stone  foundation  is  omitted,  and  the  bed  of 
concrete  laid  on  the  earth  foundation.  The  side  walls  are  of  good  building  stone,  39 


206 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


inches  thick  at  bottom,  and  27  inches  at  top.  These  walls  are  laid  in  regular  courses.  The 
bottom  of  the  aqueduct  is  an  inverted  arch,  and  the  roof  a  semicircle ;  both  arches  are 
formed  of  brick.  All  the  materials  used  are  the  most  perfect  of  their  kind,  and  every  pos. 
sible  pains  taken  in  the  construction. 

The  work  commences  at  Croton,  about  5  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Here  is  to 
be  the  dam  which  will  back  the  river  for  several  miles,  and  will  cover,  exclusive  of  its  pres- 
ent  bed,  5  or  600  acres,  and  thus  form  the  great  reservoir,  which  will  contain  100,000,000 
of  gallons  for  each  foot  in  depth  from  the  surface.  Inasmuch  as  the  aqueduct  is  to 
maintain  a  uniform  descent,  extensive  excavations  or  tunnels  in  passing  through  hills  and 
heavy  embankments,  with  culverts  in  crossing  valleys,  are  required.  Several  of  the  tunnels 
are  cut  through  solid  rock  at  an  enormous  expense.  The  longest  tunnel  is  the  Manhattan 
hill  tunnel  near  the  village  of  Manhattanville,  on  New  York  Island;  it  is  1,215  feet  in 
length. 

In  crossing  the  Harlaem  river  the  aqueduct  encounters  its  most  formidable  impediment. 
“  Owing  to  the  great  depression  of  the  stream  below  the  grade  line,  and  the  peculiar  in¬ 
clinations  of  its  banks,  the  length  of  the  aqueduct  bridge  will  greatly  exceed  the  width  of 
the  strait  at  its  surface,  (620  feet.)  The  bridge  will  be  1,420  feet  in  length,  between  the 
pipe  chambers  at  either  end  ;  18  feet  in  width,  inside  of  the  parapet  walls ;  and  27  feet  be¬ 
tween  the  outer  edges  of  the  coping;  16  piers,  built  of  stone  laid  in  courses  of  uniform 
thickness.  Of  these,  6  will  be  in  the  river,  and  10  on  the  land,  (8  of  which  will  be  on  the 
Westchester  side  of  the  strait.)  The  river  piers  will  be  20  by  40  feet  at  base,  and  84  feet 
in  height,  to  the  spring  of  the  arch ;  diminishing  as  they  rise  in  height.  The  arches  will 
have  a  span  of  80  feet.  The  land  piers  will  be  proportionably  less  in  size,  their  height  va¬ 
rying  according  to  the  slope  of  the  banks,  and  the  span  of  these  arches  will  be  50  feet  each. 

“  The  central  height  of  the  arches  over  the  stream  is  to  be  100  feet  above  high-water 
level,  in  the  clear ;  and  the  distance  from  high  tide  to  the  top  of  the  parapet  walls  will  be 
116  feet.  The  total  elevation  of  the  structure,  from  its  base  at  the  bottom  of  the  strait  to 
the  top  of  the  parapet,  will  be  about  138  feet.  The  piers  and  abutments  will  be  carried  up 
with  pilasters  to  the  top  of  the  parapet,  with  a  projection  of  two  feet  beyond  the  face  of 
the  work.  Those  piers  to  be  erected  in  the  water,  will  commence  with  solid  rock,  upon 
which  the  earthy  bed  of  the  stream  reposes.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  structure  is 
$755,130. 

“  The  bridge  is  intended  for  the  support  of  iron  pipes ;  and  these  will  be  laid  down,  in 
the  first  instance,  two  or  three  feet  diameter,  which  it  is  supposed  will  be  adequate  for  the 
supply  of  water  to  the  city,  for  many  years  to  come.  The  work  however  will  be  so  ar¬ 
ranged,  as  to  admit  the  introduction,  at  any  time  hereafter,  of  two  four-feet  pipes,  whose 
capacity  will  be  equal  to  that  of  the  grand  trunk.  The  pipes  will  be  protected  from  the 
action  of  the  frost,  by  a  covering  of  earth  four  feet  in  depth,  well  sodded  on  the  surface. 
The  aqueduct  will  discharge  its  water  into  the  northern  pipe  chamber,  whence  it  will  pass 
over  the  bridge  into  the  southern  chamber,  where  the  aqueduct  resumes  its  course  towards 
the  city.  At  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  the  line  crosses  a  ravine  of  30  feet  to  the  top  line 
of  the  embankment;  and  at  a  short  distance  beyond,  it  enters  the  Jumel  tunnel,  234  feet 
in  length ;  and  6£  miles  from  the  city.  A  ravine  is  passed  soon  after  leaving  the  tunnel, 
25  feet  below  the  grade  line  ;  and  soon  after,  another,  still  more  formidable,  presents  itself; 
which  required  a  foundation  of  30  feet  to  elevate  it  to  the  grade. 

“  The  water  will  be  conducted  over  the  Manhattan  valley  by  means  of  iron  pipes  or  in¬ 
verted  syphon's.  The  depression  of  the  valley  is  105  feet  below  the  grade  line,  and  ar¬ 
rangements  of  pipe  chambers,  on  each  side  of  the  valley,  similar  to  that  at  Harlaem  strait, 
will  be  adopted  here.  The  pipes  are  to  be  laid  on  a  foundation  of  stone,  covered  with  a 
course  of  concrete  masonry,  six  inches  thick.  After  the  pipes  are  laid,  concrete  is  to  be 
worked  under  them,  as  a  support,  18  inches  wide,  and  12  high ;  and  the  whole  is  to  be 
protected  with  a  covering  of  earth,  to  guard  against  frost  and  other  injury.  The  aqueduct 
having  terminated  at  one  pips' chamber,  on  Manhattan  hills,  it  re-commences  at  another  on 
the  Asylum  Hill ;  and  after  proceeding  a  short  distance  southward,  enters  the  Asylum  Hill 
tunnel  640  feet  in  length,  which  is  the  last.  About  three  miles  from  the  southern  terminus 
of  this  Herculean  work,  the  aqueduct  commences  its  passage  over  several  streets,  the  grading 
of  which  has  a  mean  depression  below  that  of  the  aqueduct,  of  about  40  feet ;  this  vale  is 
to  be  passed  by  a  bridge  of  a  corresponding  height.  The  line  of  aqueduct  runs  100  feet 
east  of  the  Ninth  avenue ;  and  on  the  land,  extending  from  one  street  to  the  other,  a 
foundation  wall  is  to  be  built  of  sufficient  width  and  height  to  support  the  aqueduct.  Over 
the  carriage  way  and  side-walks  of  each  street,  there  will  be  circular  arches  turned.  Nine¬ 
ty-sixth  street,  being  100  feet  wide,  will  have  two  arches  of  27  feet  span,  for  the  carriage 
way ;  and  one  arch  of  14  feet  span,  on  each  side,  for  the  side-walks.  The  other  streets 
being  only  60  feet  in  width,  will  each  have  an  arch  of  30  feet  span  for  the  carriage  way, 
and  one  on  each  side  of  10  feet  span.  The  breadth  over  the  arches  to  be  24  feet. 


NEW  YOItK  COUNTY. 


207 


“  On  the  whole  line  there  will  be  ventilators  placed  at  intervals  of  one  mile  apart ;  and 
between  each,  triangular  cavities,  designed  for  the  erection  of  additional  ventilators,  are 
left,  covered  with  flag  stone,  and  their  location  indicated  by  marble  slabs.  Some  of  the 
ventilators  can  be  used  as  waste  weirs  and  as  entrances  into  the  aqueduct.  The  next  im¬ 
portant  work  is  the  receiving  reservoir,  38  miles  by  the  line  of  the  aqueduct  from  its  north¬ 
ern  terminus.  It  covers  35  acres  of  ground,  divided  into  two  sections.  The  north  section 
to  have  20  feet  of  water  when  full,  and  the  south  25  feet ;  the  whole  reservoir  will  con¬ 
tain  about  160,000,000  of  gallons.  From  this  reservoir  the  water  will  be  conveyed  through 
the  Fifth  avenue  to  the  distributing  basin,  of  about  5  acres,  holding  20,000,000  of  gallons, 
at  Murray  Hill,  in  Forty-second  street,  by  means  of  pipes  30  inches  in  diameter.  From 
Murray  Hill  the  water  will  be  conveyed  to  the  city  by  the  ordinary  distributing  pipes.  The 
difference  of  level  between  the  basin  at  Murray  Hill  and  the  pool  at  Croton,  is  about  46 
feet,  being  a  fraction  less  than  14  inches  to  the  mile. 

“  About  26  miles  of  the  aqueduct  are  now  (April,  1840,)  completed,  and  several  other 
detached  sections  are  nearly  so.  It  must  not,  however,  be  inferred  that  the  work  still  to  be 
done  is  of  but  small  amount ;  on  the  contrary,  the  most  difficult  and  expensive  portions  of 
it  remain  to  be  performed.  According  to  the  engineer’s  report,  the  whole  work,  with  the 
exception  of  the  bridge  over  Harlaem  strait,  will  be  completed  and  ready  for  use  in  the 
spring  of  1842.  The  completion  of  the  bridge  cannot  be  expected  before  the  close  of 
1843 ;  and  it  may  and  will  probably  be  still  further  delayed.  To  diminish  this  delay,  it  is 
proposed  to  erect  a  temporary  conduit  pipe  of  suitable  dimensions,  as  soon  as  the  coffer 
dams  at  Harlaem  will  admit  of  it,  by  which  means  the  city  may  have  the  benefit  of  the 
water,  two  or  three  years  before  a  supply  could  be  had  by  the  Harlaem  aqueduct  bridge. 

“  The  original  estimate  of  cost  of  this  great  work,  was  $4,718,197  ;  but  it  will  not  fall 
short  of  $10,000,000 ; — $3,924,650  08  having  been  expended  at  the  date  of  the  last  re¬ 
port,  January  1st,  1840.” 


Northern  view  of  Harlem  Tunnel. 


Harlem  8,  Yorlcville  5,  and  Manhattanville  9  miles  from  the  City 
Hall,  are  small  villages  on  Manhattan  Island,  and  included  within  the 
city  limits.  The  New  York  and  Harlem  railroad  commences  at  the 
City  Hall  and  extends  to  Fordham  in  Westchester  county,  12z  miles 
from  the  city.  By  a  late  act  of  the  legislature,  (May  7,  1841,)  the 
company  have  the  privilege  of  extending  it  to  the  north  line  of  West¬ 
chester  county.  “  The  road  is  laid  with  a  double  track,  and  is  tra¬ 
versed  for  nearly  three-fourths  of  its  length,  by  steam  power.  Owing 
to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  necessity  for  maintain¬ 
ing  a  nearly  level  grade,  for  a  considerable  part  of  the  line,  long  and 


208 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


neavy  cuts  and  embankments  were  required,  which  augmented  the 
cost  of  construction  far  beyond  that  of  any  other  similar  work  in 
this  country.  The  whole  cost  of  the  work,  including  depots,  motive 
and  other  power,  &c.,  amounted  to  $1,100,000  or  $137,500  per  mile. 
The  receipts  for  fare  by  the  company,  during  the  year  ending  De¬ 
cember  31st,  1839,  were  $99,811.  Notwithstanding  the  great  num¬ 
ber  of  persons  conveyed  on  this  road,  about  1,200,000  annually,  the 
directors  have  not  as  yet  declared  a  dividend,  and  up  to  the  1st  of 
January,  1840,  the  stockholders  had  not  received  a  dollar  from  the 
work.  The  tunnel  through  which  the  line  passes,  is  the  most  costly 
portion,  as  well  as  the  most  attractive  feature  of  the  road.  Among 
the  thousands  who  are  almost  daily  conveyed  through  it,  a  vast  ma¬ 
jority  is  impelled  by  a  desire  to  examine  the  ‘  tunnel which,  though 
excavated  at  an  immense  cost,  ($90,000,)  contributes,  in  no  small  de¬ 
gree,  to  increase  the  revenues  of  the  company.  The  tunnel  is  cut 
through  solid  rock,  which  chiefly  consists  of  quartz  and  hornblende 
of  such  a  compact  texture,  that  masonry  is  entirely  dispensed  with, 
even  at  the  ends.  It  extends  along  the  Fourth  Avenue  from  91st  to 
94th  streets,  and  is  595  feet  in  length,  24  in  width,  and  21  in  depth 
from  the  crown  of  the  arch.  The  fare  on  this  road  is  as  follows  :  to 
27th  street,  6£  cents ;  to  Yorkville,  5  miles,  12i  cents  ;  to  Harlem,  8 
miles,  18£  cents  ;  and  to  Fordham,  12i  miles,  25  cents.” 


“  Peter  Stuyvesant, 
the  last  of  the  Dutch  gov. 
ernors  in  New  York,  de¬ 
serves  to  be  kept  in  re¬ 
membrance.  He  began 
his  administration  in  1 647 ; 
and  he  exerted  all  his  en¬ 
ergies  to  prevent  the  en¬ 
croachments  of  the  Eng- 
Fac-simile  of  Peter  Stuyvesani'i  signature.  Hsh  and  Swedes,  on  the 

territory  under  his  command.  He  was  more  successful  with  the  latter  than  the  former.  In 
1655,  he  obliged  the  Swedes,  at  a  place  in  Delaware  bay,  now  called  New  Castle,  to  swear 
allegiance  to  the  Dutch  authority.  But  in  1664,  Colonel  Nichols,  with  an  English  fleet, 
arrived  at  New  York,  then  called  New  Amsterdam,  and  compelled  Governor  Stuyvesant 
and  his  whole  colony  to  surrender  to  their  invaders.  He  however  remained  in  the  country 
until  his  death.” — Blake's  Biographical  Dictionary. 

“  His  remains  ‘  rest  in  hope’  near  by,  in  the  family  vault,  once  constructed  within  the 
walls  of  the  second  built  Reformed  Dutch  church,  which,  for  pious  purposes,  he  had  built  at 
his  personal  expense  on  his  own  farm.  The  church  is  gone,  but  the  place  is  occupied  by 
the  present  church  of  St.  Mark.  On  the  outside  wall  of  this  latter  church  is  the  original 
stone  designating  the  body  of  him  whose  rank  and  titles  stood  thus  described,  to  wit : 

‘  In  this  vault,  lies  buried 
PETRUS  STUYVESANT, 
late  Captain  General  and  Commander-in-chief  of  Amsterdam, 
in  New  Netherland,  now  called  New  York,  and  the 
Dutch  West  India  Islands. 

Died  in  August,  A.Di  1682,  aged  eighty  years.’” 

“Philip  Livingston  was  born  at  Albany,  in  January,  1716.  He  was  educated  at  Yale 
College,  in  Connecticut,  where  he  graduated  in  1737.  He  then  directed  his  attention  to 
commercial  pursuits ;  and,  by  his  integrity,  sagacity,  and  comprehensive  views,  laid  the 
foundation,  and  erected  the  superstructure  of  extraordinary  prosperity. 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


209 


“  He  commenced  his  career  in  public  life  in  1754,  as  an  alderman  of  the  east  ward  of 
the  city  of  New  York;  and,  in  1759,  was  returned  by  the  freeholders  of  this  city  as  a 
member  of  the  assembly.  In  this  body,  he  soon  became  conspicuous  for  his  talents  and 
devotedness  to  the  interests  of  the  people.  In  1769,  he  declined  an  election  for  New  York, 
and  was  returned  a  member  of  the  house  for  the  manor  of  Livingston.  His  liberal  views, 
and  powerful  exertions  in  defending  the  rights  of  the  citizens,  soon  after  rendered  him  ob¬ 
noxious  to  the  governor ;  and,  as  a  majority  of  the  assembly  were  now  under  the  influence 
of  the  crown,  his  seat  in  the  house  was  vacated,  by  a  vote  of  that  body,  on  the  plea  of 
non-residence. 

“  Mr.  Livingston  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  first  congress,  which  met  at  Philadelphia, 
1774.  He  was,  the  following  year,  appointed  president  of  the  provincial  congress,  assem¬ 
bled  at  New  York.  In  1776,  in  conjunction  with  his  colleagues,  he  affixed  his  signature 
to  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  in  behalf  of  the  state  of  New  York. 

“  During  the  recesses  of  the  general  congress,  he  rendered  important  services  in  the  or¬ 
ganization  of  the  state  government.  In  May,  1778,  he  took  his  seat  in  congress  for  the 
last  time.  Although  feeble  in  body,  and  low  in  health,  he  consented  to  forego  all  consider¬ 
ations  but  those  of  patriotism  ;  and,  at  a  distance  from  his  family,  willingly  devoted  to  his 
country  the  last  hours  of  his  life.  He  expired  on  the  12th  of  June,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.” 


oh. 

Facsimile  of  William  Livingston's  signature. 
ergy,  a  brilliant  imagination,  and  a  retentive 


“  William  Livingston,  L  L.  D.,  governor 
of  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 
York  about  the  year  1723,  and  was  graduated 
at  Yale  College,  in  1741.  He  studied  law, 
and  possessing  an  understanding  of  great  en- 
memory,  and  devoting  himself  assiduously  to 
the  cultivation  of  his  mind,  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  in  the  profession.  He  early  exhib¬ 
ited  himself  an  able  and  zealous  advocate  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  employed  his 
pen  in  vindicating  the  rights  of  the  colonies  against  the  arbitrary  claims  of  the  British. 
After  enjoying  several  important  offices  in  New  York,  he  removed  to  New  Jersey,  and  as 
a  representative  of  that  state  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  congress  of  1774. 
On  the  formation  of  a  new  constitution  for  that  state  in  1776,  he  was  appointed  the  first 
governor,  and  was  annually  re-elected  to  the  office  till  his  death  in  1790.  He  was  charac¬ 
terized  by  simplicity  in  his  manners,  and  ease,  amiableness,  and  wit  in  his  social  intercourse. 
His  writings  display  uncommon  vigor,  keenness,  and  refinement,  and  are  often  eloquent. 
He  devoted  himself,  during  the  revolution,  ardently  to  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  did 
much  by  the  shrewdness  and  severity  of  his  writings  both  to  encourage  his  countrymen  and 
exasperate  the  British. 


“  Robert  Fulton,  eminent 
as  the  inventor  of  steamboats, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Little 
Britain,  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  1765.  His  pa¬ 
rents,  who  were  Irish,  were 
respectable,  and  gave  him  a 
common  English  education  at 
Lancaster.  He  early  exhibited 
a  superior  talent  for  mechan¬ 
ism  and  painting,  and  in  his  eighteenth  year  established  himself  in  the  latter  employment  in 
Philadelphia,  and  obtained  much  credit  and  emolument  by  his  portraits  and  landscapes. 
On  entering  his  22a  year  he  went  to  England,  for  the  purpose  of  improving  his  knowledge 
of  that  art,  and  was  received  into  the  family  of  Mr.  West,  with  whom  he  spent  several 
years,  and  cultivated  a  warm  friendship.  After  leaving  that  family,  he  employed  two  years 
in  Devonshire  as  a  painter,  and  there  became  acquainted  with  the  duke  of  Bridgewater 
and  Lord  Stanhope,  the  former  famous  for  his  canals,  and  the  latter  for  his  love  of  the  me¬ 
chanic  arts.  He  soon  turned  his  attention  to  mechanics,  particularly  to  the  improvement 
of  inland  navigation  by  canals,  and  the  use  of  steam  for  the  propelling  of  boats ;  and  in 
1794  obtained  patents  for  a  double  inclined  plane,  to  be  used  for  transportation,  and  an  in¬ 
strument  to  be  employed  in  excavating  canals.  He  at  this  time  professed  himself  a  civil 
engineer,  and  published  a  treatise  on  canal  navigation.  He  soon  after  went  to  France, 
and  obtained  a  patent  from  the  government  for  the  improvements  he  had  invented.  He 
spent  the  succeeding  seven  years  in  Paris,  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Joel  Barlow,  during  which 

27 


210 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY 


period  he  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  French,  Italian,  and  German  languages,  and 
soon  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  high  mathematics,  physics,  chemistry,  and  perspective. 
He  soon  turned  his  attention  to  submarine  navigation  and  explosion,  and  in  1801,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  first  consul,  constructed  a  plunging  boat,  and  torpedoes,  (differing  ma¬ 
terially  from  Bushnel’s  invention,  with  which  he  was  acquainted,)  with  which  he  performed 
many  experiments  in  the  harbor  of  Brest,  demonstrating  the  practicability  of  employing 
subaquatic  explosion  and  navigation  for  the  destruction  of  vessels.  These  inventions  at¬ 
tracted  the  attention  of  the  British  government,  and  overtures  were  made  to  him  by  the 
ministry  which  induced  him  to  go  to  London,  with  the  hope  that  they  would  avail  them¬ 
selves  of  his  machines  ;  but  a  demonstration  of  their  efficacy  which  he  gave  the  ministry, 
by  blowing  up  a  vessel  in  their  presence,  led  them  to  wish  to  suppress  the  invention  rather 
than  encourage  it ;  and  accordingly  they  declined  patronising  him.  During  this  period  he 
also  made  many  efforts  to  discover  a  method  of  successfully  using  the  steam  engine  for  the 
propelling  of  boats,  and  as  early  as  1793,  made  such  experiments  as  inspired  him  with  great 
confidence  in  its  practicability.  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Esq.,  chancellor  of  New  York,  and 
minister  of  the  United  States  to  the  French  court,  on  his  arrival  in  France,  induced  him  to 
renew  his  attention  to  this  subject,  and  embarked  with  him  in  making  experiments  for  the 
purpose  of  satisfying  themselves  of  the  possibility  of  employing  steam  in  navigation.  Mr. 
Fulton  engaged  with  intense  interest  in  the  trial,  and  in  1803,  constructed  a  boat  on  the 
river  Seine,  at  their  joint  expense,  by  which  he  fully  evinced  the  practicability  of  propelling 
boats  by  that  agent.  He  immediately  resolved  to  enrich  his  country  with  this  invaluable 
discovery,  and  on  returning  to  New  York  in  1806,  commenced,  in  conjunction  with  Mr. 
Livingston,  the  construction  of  the  first  Fulton  boat,  which  was  launched  in  the  spring  of 
1807  from  the  ship-yard  of  Charles  Browne,  New  York,  and  completed  in  August.  This 
boat,  which  was  called  the  Clermont,*  demonstrated  on  the  first  experiment,  to  a  host  of, 
at  first  incredulous,  but  at  length  astonished  spectators,  the  correctness  of  his  expectations, 
and  the  value  of  his  invention.  Between  this  period  and  his  death  he  superintended  the 
erection  of  fourteen  other  steam  vessels,  and  made  great  improvements  in  their  construction.” 

“  I  myself,”  says  Judge  Story,  “  have  heard  the  illustrious  inventor  relate ,  in  an  animated 
and  affecting  manner,  the  history  of  his  labors  and  discouragements  : — ‘  When,’  said  he,  ‘  I 
was  building  my  first  steamboat  at  New  York,  the  project  was  viewed  by  the  public  either 
tvith  indifference  or  with  contempt  as  a  visionary  scheme.  My  friends  indeed  were  civil, 
but  they  were  shy.  They  listened  with  patience  to  my  explanations,  but  with  a  settled 
cast  of  incredulity  on  their  countenances.  I  felt  the  full  force  of  the  lamentation  of  the 
poet, — 

“  Truths  would  you  teach,  to  save  a  sinking  land, 

All  shun,  none  aid  you,  and  few  understand .” 

As  I  had  occasion  to  pass  daily  to  and  from  the  building  yard  while  my  boat  was  in  pro¬ 
gress,  I  have  often  loitered  unknown  near  the  idle  groups  of  strangers  gathering  in  little 
circles,  and  heard  various  inquiries  as  to  the  object  of  this  new  vehicle.  The  language  was 
uniformly  that  of  scorn,  sneer,  or  ridicule.  The  loud  laugh  rose  at  my  expense,  the  dry 
jest,  the  wise  calculation  of  losses  and  expenditures ;  the  dull  but  endless  repetition  of  the 
Fulton  folly.  Never  did  a  single  encouraging  remark,  a  bright  hope,  or  a  warm  wish, 
cross  my  path.  Silence  itself  was  but  politeness  veiling  its  doubts  or  hiding  its  reproaches. 
At  length  the  day  arrived  when  the  experiment  was  to  be  got  into  operation.  To  me  it 
was  a  most  trying  and  interesting  occasion.  I  invited  many  friends  to  go  on  board  to  wit¬ 
ness  the  first  successful  trip.  Many  of  them  did  me  the  favor  to  attend  as  a  matter  of  per¬ 
sonal  respect ;  but  it  was  manifest  they  did  it  with  reluctance,  fearing  to  be  partners  of  my 
mortification  and  not  of  my  triumph.  I  was  well  aware  that  in  my  case  there  were  many 
reasons  to  doubt  of  my  own  success.  The  machinery  (like  Fitch’s  before  him)  was  new 
and  ill  made ;  and  many  parts  of  it  were  constructed  by  mechanics  unacquainted  with  such 
work,  and  unexpected  difficulties  might  reasonably  be  presumed  to  present  themselves  from 
other  causes.  The  moment  arrived  in  which  the  word  was  to  be  given  for  the  vessel  to 
move.  My  friends  were  in  groups  on  the  deck.  •  There  was  anxiety  mixed  with  fear 
among  them.  They  were  silent,  sad,  and  weary.  I  read  in  their  looks  nothing  but  disaster, 
and  almost  repented  of  my  efforts.  The  signal  was  given,  and  the  boat  moved  on  a  short 
distance  and  then  stopped,  and  became  immovable.  To  the  silence  of  the  preceding  mo¬ 
ment  now  succeeded  murmurs  of  discontent,  and  agitations,  and  whispers,  and  shrugs.  I 
could  hear  distinctly  repeated,  “/  told  you  it  Was  so  ;  it  is  a  foolish  scheme;  I  wish  we 
were  well  out  of  it.”  I  elevated  myself  upon  a  platform  and  addressed  the  assembly.  I 
stated  that  I  knew  not  what  was  the  matter ;  but  if  they  would  be  quiet,  and  indulge  mo 


*  So  named  from  the  seat  of  the  Livingston  family.  ( :e  i  Clermont,  Columbia  county.) 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


211 


for  half  an  hour,  I  would  either  go  on  or  abandon  the  voyage  for  that  time.  This  short 
respite  was  conceded  without  objection.  I  went  below  and  examined  the  machinery,  and 
discovered  that  the  cause  was  a  slight  maladjustment  of  some  of  the  work.  In  a  short 
period  it  was  obviated.  The  boat  was  again  put  in  motion.  She  continued  to  move  on. 
All  were  still  incredulous.  None  seemed  willing  to  trust  the  evidence  of  their  own  senses. 
We  left  the  fair  city  of  New  York;  we  passed  through  the  romantic  and  ever-varying 
scenery  of  the  Highlands ;  we  descried  the  clustering  houses  of  Albany ;  we  reached  its 
shores ;  and  then,  even  then,  when  all  seemed  achieved,  I  was  the  victim  of  disappoint¬ 
ment.  Imagination  superseded  the  influence  of  fact.  It  was  then  doubted  if  it  could  be 
done  again  ;  or  if  done,  it  was  doubted  if  it  could  be  made  of  any  great  value.’  ” 


“  The  Clermont ,”  Fulton's  first  American  Steamboat. 


“  Fulton  obtained  a  patent  for  his  inventions  in  navigation  by  steam  in  February,  1809,  and 
another  for  some  improvements  in  1811.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  appointed  by  the  legis¬ 
lature  of  New  York,  one  of  the  commissioners  to  explore  a  route  for  a  canal  from  the  great 
lakes  to  the  Hudson,  and  engaged  with  zeal  in  the  promotion  of  that  great  work.  On 
the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  in  1812,  he 
renewed  his  attention  to  submarine  warfare,  and  contrived  a  method  of  discharging  guns 
under  water,  for  which  he  obtained  a  patent.  In  1814  he  contrived  an  armed  steam-ship 
for  the  defence  of  the  harbor  of  New  York,  and  also  a  submarine  vessel,  or  plunging  boat, 
of  such  dimensions  as  to  carry  100  men,  the  plans  of  which  being  approved  by  government, 
he  was  authorized  to  construct  them  at  the  public  expense.  But  before  completing  either 
of  those  works,  he  died  suddenly,  February  24th,  1815.  His  person  was  tall,  slender,  and 
well  formed,  his  manners  graceful  and  dignified,  and  his  disposition  generous.  His  attain¬ 
ments  and  inventions  bespeak  the  high  superiority  of  his  talents.  He  was  an  accomplished 
painter,  was  profoundly  versed  in  mechanics,  and  possessed  an  invention  of  great  fertility, 
and  which  was  always  directed  by  an  eminent  share  of  good  sense.  His  style  as  a  writer 
was  perspicuous  and  energetic.  To  him  is  to  be  ascribed  the  honor  of  inventing  a  method 
of  successfully  employing  the  steam  engine  in  navigation,  an  invention  justly  considered 
one  of  the  most  important  which  has  been  made  in  modem  ages,  and  by  which  he  rendered 
himself  both  a  perpetual  and  one  of  the  greatest  benefactors  of  mankind.  He  was  not  in¬ 
deed  the  first  who  conceived  it  to  be  possible ;  others  had  believed  its  practicability,  and 
made  many  attempts  to  propel  boats  by  steam,  but  having  neither  his  genius,  his  knowledge, 
nor  his  perseverance,  they  were  totally  unsuccessful.  Mr.  Fulton  was  familiarly  acquainted 
with  many  of  the  most  distinguished  literary  and  political  characters  both  of  the  United 
States  and  of  Europe,  was  a  director  of  the  American  academy  of  fine  arts,  and  a  member 
of  several  literary  and  philosophical  societies.” 


“  Bbockholst  Livingston,  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  was  the  son 
of  William  Livingston,  governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
November  25th,  1757.  He  entered  Princeton  college,  but  in  1776  lpft  it  for  the  field,  and 
became  one  of  the  family  of  General  Schuyler,  commander  of  the  northern  army.  He  was 


212 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


afterward  attached  to  the  suite  of  general  Arnold,  with  the  rank  of  major,  and  shared  in 
the  honors  of  the  conquest  of  Burgoyne.  In  1779  he  accompanied  Mr.  Jay  to  the  court 
of  Spain  as  his  private  secretary,  and  remained  abroad  about  three  years.  On  his  return 
he  devoted  himself  to  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  April,  1783.  His  talents  were 
happily  adapted  to  the  profession,  and  soon  raised  him  into  notice,  and  ultimately  to  emi¬ 
nence.  He  was  called  to  the  bench  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  of  New  York,  Jan¬ 
uary  8th,  1802,  and  in  November,  1806,  was  transferred  to  that  of  the  supreme  court  of 
the  United  States,  the  duties  of  which  station  he  discharged  with  distinguished  faithfulness 
and  ability  until  his  death,  which  took  place  during  the  sittings  of  the  court  at  Washington, 
March  18th,  1823,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age.  He  possessed  a  mind  of  uncommon  acute¬ 
ness  and  energy,  and  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  an  accomplished  scholar,  an  able  pleader  and 
jurist,  an  upright  judge,  and  a  liberal  patron  of  learning. 


Facsimile  of  Richard  Montgomery's  signature. 

“  Richard  Montgomery,  a  major-general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
the  north  of  Ireland,  in  1737.  He  possessed  an  excellent  genius,  which  was  matured  by  a 
fine  education.  Entering  the  army  of  Great  Britain,  he  successfully  fought  her  battles,  with 
Wolfe,  at  Quebec,  in  1759  ;  and  on  the  very  spot  where  he  was,  afterward,  doomed  to  fall, 
when  fighting  against  her,  under  the  banners  of  freedom. 

“  He  early  imbibed  an  attachment  to  America  ;  and,  after  his  arrival  in  New  York,  pur¬ 
chased  an  estate,  about  one  hundred  miles  from  the  city,  and  married  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Livingston.  When  the  struggle  with  Great  Britain  commenced,  as  he  was  known  to  have 
an  ardent  attachment  to  liberty,  and  had  expressed  his  readiness  to  draw  his  sword  on  the 
side  of  the  colonies,  the  command  of  the  continental  forces,  in  the  northern  department, 
was  intrusted  to  him  and  Gen.  Schuyler,  in  the  fall  of  1775. 

“  By  the  indisposition  of  Schuyler,  the  chief  command  devolved  upon  him  in  October. 
After  a  succession  of  splendid  and  important  victories,  he  appeared  before  Quebec.  In  an 
attempt  to  storm  the  city,  on  the  last  of  December,  this  brave  commander  fell,  by  a  dis¬ 
charge  of  grape-shot,  both  of  his  aids  being  killed  at  the  same  time.  In  his  fall,  there  was 
every  circumstance  united,  that  could  impart  fame  and  glory  to  the  death  of  a  soldier.” 

“  General  Montgomery  was  gifted  with  fine  abilities  and  had  received  an  excellent  educa¬ 
tion.  His  military  talents  especially  were  great ;  his  measures  were  taken  with  judgment 
and  executed  with  vigor.  The  sorrow  for  his  loss  was  heightened  by  the  esteem  which  his 
amiable  character  had  gained  him.  At  the  period  of  his  death  he  was  only  thirty-eight 
years  of  age.” 


“  William  Alexan. 
der,  Lord  Stirling,  a 
major-general  in  the 
f  service  of  the  United 
States  during  the  revo¬ 
lutionary  war,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  New 
of  Lord  Stirling's  signature.  York,  but  passed  a 

^portion  of  his  life  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  generally  styled  through  courtesy  Lord  Stirling , 
*  in  consequence  of  being  considered  by  many  as  the  rightful  heir  to  the  title  and  estates  of 
an  earldom  in  Scotland,  from  which  country  his  father  came,  though  the  government  re¬ 
fused  to  acknowledge  the  son’s  claim  when  he  repaired  to  Great  Britain  in  pursuit  of  this 
inheritance.  He  was  early  remarkable  for  his  fondness  for  mathematics  and  astronomy,  in 
which  sciences  he  made  considerable  progress. — Throughout  the  revolution  he  acted  an  im¬ 
portant  part,  and  distinguished  himself  particularly  in  the  battles  of  Long  Island,  German¬ 
town,  and  Monmouth.  In  the  first,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  after  having,  by  a  bold  attack 
upon  a  corps  commanded  by  Cornwallis,  effected  the  escape  of  a  large  part  of  his  detach¬ 
ment.  In  the  second,  his  division,  with  the  brigades  of  Generals  Nash  and  Maxwell,  formed 
the  corps  de  reserve  ;  and  in  the  last  he  commanded  the  left  wing  of  the  American  army. 
He  was  always  warmly  attached  to  General  Washington,  and  the  cause  which  he  had  es¬ 
poused.  He  died  at  Albany,  Jan.  15th,  1783,  aged  57  years,  leaving  behind  him  the  repu- 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


213 


tation  of  a  brave,  discerning,  and  intrepid  officer,  and  an  honest  and  a  learned  man.”— 
Enclyclopedia  Americana. 


“  Alexander  Hamilton  was  born  in  1757,  in  the  island  of  Nevis,  West  Indies.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  England,  and  his  mother  of  the  island.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he 
became  a  student  of  Columbia  college,  his  mother  having  emigrated  to  New  York.  He 
had  not  been  in  that  institution  more  than  a  year,  before  he  gave  a  brilliant  manifestation 
of  the  powers  of  his  mind  in  the  discussion  concerning  the  rights  of  the  colonies.  In  sup¬ 
port  of  these  he  published  several  essays,  which  were  marked  by  such  vigor  and  maturity 
of  style,  strength  of  argument,  and  wisdom  and  compass  of  views,  that  Mr.  Jay,  at  that 
time  in  the  meridian  of  life,  was  supposed  to  be  the  author.  When  it  had  become  neces¬ 
sary  to  unsheath  the  sword,  the  ardent  spirit  of  young  Hamilton  would  no  longer  allow  him 
to  remain  in  academic  retirement ;  and  before  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered  the  American 
army  in  the  rank  of  captain  of  artillery.  In  this  capacity  he  soon  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  who  appointed  him  his  aid-de-camp,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel.  This  occurred  in  1777,  when  he  was  not  more  than  twenty  years  of  age.  From 
this  time  he  continued  the  inseparable  companion  of  Washington  during  the  war,  and  was 
always  consulted  by  him,  and  frequently  by  other  public  functionaries,  on  the  most  impor¬ 
tant  occasions.  He  acted  as  his  first  aid-de-camp  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine,  German¬ 
town,  and  Monmouth,  and  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  he  led,  at  his  own  request,  the  detach¬ 
ment  that  carried  by  assault  one  of  the  enemy’s  outworks,  October  14, 1781.  In  this  affair 
he  displayed  the  most  brilliant  valor. 

“  After  the  war,  Col.  Hamilton,  then  about  twenty-four,  commenced  the  study  of  the  law, 
as  he  had  at  that  time  a  wife  and  family  depending  upon  him  for  support.  He  was  soon 
admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1782,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  congress  from  the  state  of  New 
York,  where  he  quickly  acquired  the  greatest  influence  and  distinction,  and  was  always  a 
member  and  sometimes  chairman  of  those  committees  to  which  were  confided  such  subjects 
as  were  deemed  of  vital  interest  to  the  nation.  The  reports  which  he  prepared  are  remark¬ 
able  for  the  correctness  and  power  which  characterize  every  effort  of  his  pen.  At  the  end 
of  the  session  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
became  eminent  at  the  bar.  In  1786,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  his 
state,  and  was  mainly  instrumental  in  preventing  a  serious  collision  between  Vermont  and 
New  York,  in  consequence  of  a  dispute  concerning  territorial  jurisdiction.  He  was  elected 
a  delegate  from  New  York  to  the  convention  which  was  to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  in  order 
to  form  a  constitution  for  the  United  States.  As  the  doors  of  the  convention  were  closed 
during  its  sitting,  and  its  records  were  never  given  to  the  world,  it  is  not  possible  to  state 
the  precise  part  which  he  acted  in  that  body.  It  is  well  ascertained,  however,  that  the 
country  is  at  least  as  much  indebted  to  him  for  the  excellences  of  the  constitution  as  to  any 
other  member  of  the  illustrious  assembly.  Hamilton  and  Madison  were  the  chief  oracles 
and  artificers.  After  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  by  the  convention,  he  associated  him¬ 
self  with  Mr.  Madison  and  Mr.  Jay,  for  the  purpose  of  disposing  the  public  to  receive  it 
with  favor.  The  essays  which  they  wrote  with  that  design,  addressed  to  the  people  of 
New  York  during  the  years  1787  and  1788,  are  well  known  under  the  name  of  the  Fed¬ 
eralist,  and  contributed  powerfully  to  produce  the  effect  for  which  they  were  composed. 
The  larger  portion  of  them  was  written  by  Hamilton.  In  1788,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
State  convention  of  New  York,  which  met  to  deliberate  on  the  adoption  of  the  federal 
constitution,  and  it  was  chiefly  in  consequence  of  his  efforts  that  it  was  accepted.  On  the 
organization  of  the  federal  government  in  1789,  he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  secretary 
of  the  treasury.  This  was  a  situation  which  required  the  exercise  of  all  the  great  powers 
of  his  mind,  for  the  public  credit  was  at  that  time  at  the  lowest  state  of  depression ;  and  as 
no  statistical  account  of  the  country  had  ever  been  attempted,  its  fiscal  resources  were 
wholly  unknown.  But  before  Hamilton  retired  from  the  post,  which  he  did  after  filling  it 
somewhat  more  than  five  years,  he  had  raised  the  public  credit  to  a  height  altogether  un- 


214 


NEW  YORK  COUNTY. 


precedented.  in  the  history  of  the  country ;  and  by  the  admirable  system  of  finance  which  he 
established,  had  acquired  the  reputation  of  one  of  the  greatest  financiers  of  the  age.  His 
official  reports  to  congress  are  considered  as  masterpieces,  and  the  principles  which  he  ad¬ 
vocated  in  them  still  continue  to  exercise  a  great  influence  in  the  revenue  department  of 
the  American  government.  Whilst  secretary  of  the  treasury,  he  was  ex  officio  one  of  the 
cabinet  counsellors  of  President  Washington ;  and  such  was  the  confidence  reposed  by 
that  great  man  in  his  integrity  and  ability,  that  he  rarely  ventured  upon  any  executive  act 
of  moment  without  his  concurrence,  He  was  one  of  the  principal  advisers  of  the  procla¬ 
mation  of  neutrality  issued  by  Washington  in  1793,  in  consequence  of  the  attempt  made 
by  the  minister  of  France  to  cause  the  United  States  to  take  part  with  his  country  in  the 
war  then  raging  between  it  and  England.  This  measure  he  defended  in  a  series  of  essays, 
under  the  signature  of  Pacificus,  which  were  successful  in  giving  it  popularity.  In  1795, 
Hamilton  resigned  his  office  and  retired  to  private  life,  in  order  to  be  better  able  to  support 
a  numerous  family  by  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1798,  however,  when  an  invasion 
was  apprehended  from  the  French,  and  a  provisional  army  had  been  called  into  the  field, 
his  public  services  were  again  required.  President  Adams  had  offered  the  chief  command 
of  the  provisional  army  to  Washington,  who  consented  to  accept  in  case  Hamilton  should 
be  chosen  second  in  command,  with  the  title  of  inspector-general.  This  was  accordingly 
done,  and  in  a  short  time  he  succeeded  in  bringing  the  organization  and  discipline  of  the 
army  to  a  high  degree  of  excellence.  On  the  death  of  Washington  in  1799,  he  succeeded 
of  course  to  the  chief  command.  The  title  of  lieutenant-general,  however,  to  which  he  was 
then  entitled,  was  from  some  unexplained  cause  never  conferred  on  him. 

“  When  the  army  was  disbanded  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities  between  the  United 
States  and  France,  General  Hamilton  returned  again  to  the  bar,  and  continued  to  practise 
with  increased  reputation  and  success  until  1804.  In  June  of  that  year  he  received  a  note 
from  Col.  Burr, — between  whom  and  himself  a  political  had  become  a  personal  enmity, — 
in  which  he  was  required,  in  offensive  language,  to  acknowledge  or  disavow  certain  ex¬ 
pressions  derogatory  to  the  latter.  The  tone  of  the  note  was  such  as  to  cause  him  to  refuse 
to  do  either,  and  a  challenge  was  the  consequence.  July  11,  the  parties  met  at  Hoboken, 
opposite  New  York,  on  the  Jersey  side  of  the  Hudson,  and  on  the  first  fire  Hamilton  fell 
mortally  wounded,  on  the  same  spot  where,  a  short  time  previously,  his  eldest  son  had  been 
kiLled  in  a  duel.  He  lingered  until  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day,  when  he  expired. 
The  sensation  which  this  excited  throughout  the  United  States  had  never  been  exceeded 
on  this  continent.  Men  of  all  parties  felt  that  the  nation  was  deprived  of  its  greatest  orna¬ 
ment.  His  transcendent  abilities  were  universally  acknowledged.  Every  citizen  was  ready 
to  express  confidence  in  his  spirit  of  honor  and  his  capacity  for  public  service.  Of  all  the 
coadjutors  and  advisers  of  Washington,  Hamilton  was  undoubtedly  the  one  in  whose 
sagacity  and  judgment  he  reposed  the  greatest  confidence,  whether  in  the  military  or  in  the 
civil  career ;  and  of  all  the  American  statesmen  he  displayed  the  most  comprehensive  un¬ 
derstanding,  and  the  most  varied  ability,  whether  applied  to  subjects  practical  or  speculative. 
A  collection  of  his  works  was  issued  in  New  York  in  three  octavo  volumes,  some  years 
after  his  death.  His  style  is  nervous,  lucid,  and  elevated ;  he  excels  in  reasoning  founded 
on  general  principles  and  historical  experience.  General  Hamilton  was  regarded  as  the 
head  of  the  Federalists  in  the  party  divisions  of  the  American  republic.  He  was  accused 
of  having  preferred  in  the  convention  that  framed  the  Federal  constitution,  a  government 
more  akin  to  the  monarchical ;  he  weakened  the  federal  party  by  denouncing  President 
Adams,  whose  administration  he  disapproved,  and  whose  fitness  for  office  he  questioned. 
But  his  general  course  and  his  confidential  correspondence,  show  that  he  earnestly  desired 
to  preserve  the  constitution,  when  it  was  adopted,  and  that  his  motives  were  patriotic  in 
his  proceedings  towards  Mr.  Adams.  Certain  it  is,  that  no  man  labored  more  faithfully, 
skilfully,  and  efficiently  in  organizing  and  putting  into  operation  the  federal  government.” — 
Encyclopedia  Americana. 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


215 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 

Niagara  county  was  taken  from  Genesee  in  1808.  Greatest  length 
E.  and  W.  30  ;  breadth  N.  and  S.  21  miles.  The  word  Niagara 
is  of  Indian  origin,  and  signifies  across  the  neck  or  strait.  The 
streams  are  few,  and  with  the  exception  of  Eighteen  Mile,  Johnson’s, 
and  Tonawanta  creeks,  and  Niagara  river,  are  inconsiderable.  In 
1796,  exclusive  of  the  occupants  of  Forts  Niagara  and  Schlosser, 
there  was  but  one  white  family  in  the  territory  now  forming  this 
county.  The  proposed  line  for  a  ship  canal,  from  the  Niagara  river 
above  the  Falls  to  Lewiston,  lies  wholly  within  the  county,  com¬ 
mencing  near  Gill  creek  and  the  site  of  old  Fort  Schlosser.  A  rail¬ 
road  runs  from  Lockport  and  another  from  Buffalo  to  the  Niagara 
Falls.  A  branch  has  been  made  from  Lewiston  to  intersect  the 
Lockport  and  Niagara  Falls  railroad,  a  distance  of  about  2  miles.  The 
Erie  canal  enters  Tonawanta  creek  near  its  mouth.  The  creek 
is  used  for  12  miles  as  a  canal  by  a  tow-path  on  its  bank.  At  Pen¬ 
dleton  village,  the  canal  leaves  the  creek  and  turns  in  a  northeasterly 
direction  across  the  mountain  ridge,  with  a  deep  cut  of  about  three 
miles  through  rock  averaging  20  feet ;  and  then  descending  60  feet, 
by  five  double  combined  locks  of  12  feet  each,  it  passes  out  of  the 
county  south  of  the  Ridge  road.  The  county  is  divided  into  12 
towns,  viz. : 

Cambria,  Lockport,  Pendleton,  Somerset, 

Hartland,  Newfane,  Porter,  Wheatland, 

Lewiston,  Niagara,  Royalton,  Wilson. 

Lockport  village,  incorporated  in  1829,  was  founded  in  the  spring  of 
1821,  by  Mr.  Sherard  Comstock,  deceased,  who  surveyed  his  farm  of 
100  acres  into  town  lots.  The  first  house  was  erected  by  Joseph 
Langdon,  additions  were  soon  made  to  the  village  plat,  and  in  1822  it 
became  the  county  town.  It  is  30  miles  E.  of  Buffalo,  20  from 
Niagara  Falls,  and  333  by  the  canal  route  from  Albany. 

The  following  is  a  view  of  the  Jive  double  locks  on  the  Erie  canal, 
(from  which  the  village  derives  its  name,)  and  part  of  the  buildings 
in  the  vicinity.  A  new  set  of  locks  by  the  side  of  those  represented 
in  the  engraving  are  now  constructing,  which  will  give  increased 
facility  to  the  passage  of  boats.  The  village  contains  about  700 
houses,  10  churches,  and,  according  to  the  census  of  1850,  12,285 
inhabitants.  Its  buildings,  both  public  and  private,  are  mostly  built 
of  the  excellent  stone  which  is  here  quarried.  There  are  2  banks 
and  two  female  seminaries.  The  manufacture  of  flour  is  an  im¬ 
portant  branch  of  business  in  this  place.  The  great  abundance  of 
water  derived  from  Lake  Erie,  which  is  brought  through  the  deep 
cut  to  the  brow  of  the  ridge,  and  all  around  the  basin,  is  used  for 
various  mills  and  factories.  The  waste  water  of  these  mills,  and  of 
the  locks  of  the  sixty  f»et  mountain  ridge,  after  it  has  fulfilled  its  hy¬ 
draulic  operations  in  its  descent  to  the  basin,  is  there  retained  by  a  dam 


216 


NIAGARA  COUNTY . 


Northeastern  view  of  the  locks  at  Lochport. 

across  the  ravine,  and  forms  the  head  or  fountain  to  fill  the  long,  or 
sixty-five  mile  level,  and  as  such  is  chiefly  relied  on,  though  the  Oak 
orchard,  the  Genesee,  and  other  feeders  are  useful  in  their  place. 

“  The  upper  part  of  the  village  is  about  80  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  basin  and  long  level  of  the  canal.  In  moving  up  in  a  boat  to  the 
head  of  the  basin  to  enter  the  chain  of  double  locks,  which  are  arranged 
in  the  most  massive  style  side  by  side,  in  huge  chambers,  with  stone 
steps  in  the  centre,  guarded  by  iron  railings  for  safety  and  convenience, 
the  gates  of  the  lock  are  closed  after  the  boat  is  in  the  chamber,  and 
the  roaring  and  sudden  influx  of  the  water  from  the  lock  above,  in  three 
or  four  minutes  raises  the  boat  to  the  level  of  the  lock  above  ;  and  this 
is  repeated  five  times,  the  adjoining  side  lock  being,  perhaps,  employed 
in  letting  a  boat  pass  down  the  lock  to  the  basin  and  canal.  The  boat 
having  in  this  manner  risen  up  60  feet  in  five  lifts,  the  passenger  finds 
before  him  a  vista  of  several  miles,  bounded  on  either  hand  by  walls 
of  the  solid  limestone  rock,  25  to  30  feet  high,  and  very  appropriately 
called  the  ‘  Deep  rock  cutting  at  Lochport.’'  ” 

Lewiston  village,  upon  the  river,  was  surveyed  in  1813  ;  it  is  7  miles 
N.  of  Niagara  Falls,  27  from  Buffalo,  7  S.  of  Lake  Ontario,  18  W.  of 
Lockport,  80  from  Rochester.  It  lies  opposite  Queenston,  U.  C.  It 
is  the  port  of  entry  for  the  Niagara  collection  district,  and  is  on  the 
Ridge  road,  elevated  about  a  hundred  feet  above  the  river,  at  the  foot 
of  the  mountain  ridge  portage,  and  at  the  head  of  the  navigation,  and 
contains  about  70  dwellings.  The  chief  export  is  lumber.  Steam¬ 
boats  from  the  lake  touch  daily  at  the  landing.  There  is  a  ferry  across 
the  river  at  Queenston,  the  passage  of  which,  though  safe,  is  somewhat 
appalling  by  reason  of  the  rapidity  and  eddies  of  the  stream.  In  the 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


217 


central  part  of  this  town,  now  intersected  by  the  Niagara  Falls  and 
Lockport  railroad,  “  8  miles  below  the  falls  and  3  miles  back  from 
the  river,  is  the  reservation  of  the  Tuscarora  Indians,  containing  2  miles 
in  width  by  4  in  length,  (about  5,000  acres,)  of  very  excellent  land. 
They  consist  of  about  300  souls  ;  have  a  Presbyterian  church  of  50 
members,  a  resident  clergyman,  and  a  school  teacher,  and  a  temper¬ 
ance  society  of  more  than  100  members.  They  are  under  the  care  of 
the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Their  village  is  delightfully 
situated  on  a  high  bank,  commanding  an  extensive  prospect  of  the  sur¬ 
rounding  country  and  of  Lake  Ontario.  These  Indians  came  from 
North  Carolina  about  the  year  1712,  and  joined  the  confederacy  of  the 
Five  Nations,  themselves  making  the  sixth.  They  formerly  held  a 
very  valuable  interest  in  land  in  North  Carolina,  but  have  recently  sold 
it  and  divided  the  proceeds  equally  among  themselves.  Many  of  them 
are  in  very  prosperous  circumstances;  in  1834,  one  man  raised  and 
gathered  50  acres  of  wheat.  Visiters  at  the  falls  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  going,  sometimes  in  crowds,  to  this  village  on  the  Sabbath  ;  but  the 
Indians,  with  their  missionary,  have  often  expressed  their  desire  that 
visiters  would  not  interrupt  them  at  that  time.” 


Lewiston  Landing,  and  Queenston  Heights,  U.  C. 


The  above  is  a  northern  view  taken  near  the  steamboat  landing  at 
Lewiston,  showing  in  the  distance  Queenston  Heights,  distinguished 
as  the  battle-ground  during  the  war  of  1812.  On  the  summit  of  the 
elevated  ground,  370  feet  above  the  river,  is  seen  Gen.  Brock’s  mon¬ 
ument,  constructed  of  freestone,  at  the  expense  of  the  provincial  gov¬ 
ernment.  The  base  is  20  feet  square,  and  the  shaft  rises  126  feet 
from  the  ground ;  from  this  eminence  the  country  around,  including 
the  picturesque  lake  and  river  scenery,  may  be  seen  for  fifty  miles. 
The  following  is  the  inscription  on  the  monument. 

“  The  legislature  of  Upper  Canada  has  dedicated  this  monument  to  the  many  civil  and 
military  services  of  the  late  Sir  James  Brock,  Knight  commander  of  the  Most  Honorable 
Order  of  the  Bath,  Provincial  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Major-general,  commanding  His 
Majesty’s  forces  therein.  He  fell  in  action,  on  the  13th  of  October,  1812,  honored  and 

28 


218 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


beloved  by  those  whom  he  governed,  and  deplored  by  his  Sovereign,  to  whose  services  hla 
life  had  been  devoted.  His  remains  are  deposited  in  this  vault,  as  also  his  Aid-de-camp, 
Lieutenant-colonel  John  McDonald,  who  died  of  his  wounds  the  14  of  October,  1812, 
received  the  day  before  in  action.” 

Gen.  Brock  was  killed  at  a  spot  about  80  rods  down  the  hill,  in  a 
northwestern  direction  from  the  monument,  near  a  cherry-tree.  He 
was  a  brave  officer,  and  fell  at  the  head  of  his  men  while  cheering 
them  on  to  action.  It  is  stated  that  when  leading  on  his  men,  he  laid 
his  hand  on  his  breast,  exclaiming,  “  Here  is  a  breast  for  your  yankee 
balls — shoot  me  if  you  can  when  mortally  wounded,  soon  after,  he 
took  off  his  cravat,  and  told  one  of  his  aids  to  deliver  it  to  his  sister. 
He  was  at  first  interred  in  the  northeastern  bastion  of  Fort  George, 
and  a  24  pound  American  cannon,  captured  with  Hull,  placed  at  his 
head.  His  remains  were  removed  to  Queenston  Heights,  on  one  of 
the  anniversaries  of  the  battle. — On  the  night  of  the  17th  of  April, 
1840,  some  evil-minded  and  unknown  persons  endeavored  to  blow  up 
the  monument  by  gunpowder.  This  disgraceful  attempt  was  partially 
successful ;  the  keystone  over  the  door  was  thrown  out,  and  the  struc¬ 
ture  itself  was  cracked  up  to  nearly  two-thirds  of  its  height. — The 
following  account  of  the  battle  of  Queenston  is  from  the  Albany  Ga¬ 
zette,  Oct.  20th,  1812. 

“  At  four  o’clock  in  the  morning  of  the  13th  inst.,  Col.  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer,  at  the 
head  of  300  militia,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Christie,  at  the  head  of  300  regulars  of  the  13th  regi¬ 
ment,  embarked  in  boats  to  dislodge  the  British  from  the  heights  of  Queenston.  They 
crossed  under  cover  of  a  battery  of  two  eighteen  and  two  six  pounders.  Their  movement 
was  discovered  almost  at  the  instant  of  their  departure  from  the  American  shore.  The 
detachments  landed  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry.  Col.  Van  Rensselaer 
received  a  wound  through  his  right  thigh  soon  after  landing,  but  proceeded  on  until  he 
received  two  other  flesh  wounds  in  his  thigh  and  the  calf  of  one  of  his  legs,  and  a  severe 
contusion  on  one  of  his  heels,  when  he  ordered  the  detachments  to  march  on  and  storm 
the  first  battery,  and  was  himself  carried  off  the  field.  The  order  for  storming  was  gal¬ 
lantly  executed,  and  a  severe  conflict  ensued.  Lieut.  Col.  Christie  received  a  severe  wound 
in  his  hand,  but  got  over  the  works.  At  this  time  both  parties  were  reinforced.  The  en¬ 
emy  soon  gave  way,  and  fled  in  every  direction.  Maj.  Gen.  Van  Rensselaer  crossed  over 
to  sustain  the  attack,  and  ascended  the  heights  of  Queenston,  where  he  was  attacked  with 
great  fury  by  several  hundred  Indians,  who  however  were  soon  routed  and  driven  into  the 
woods.  The  reinforcements  ordered  over  from  the  American  side  began  to  move  tardily, 
and  finally  stopped.  This  induced  the  major-general  to  return,  in  order  to  accelerate  their 
movements.  He  mounted  a  horse,  and  used  every  exertion  in  his  power  to  urge  on  the 
reinforcements,  but  in  vain  ;  whereupon  the  general  perceiving  that  a  strong  reinforcement 
was  advancing  to  support  the  British,  ordered  a  retreat,  but  before  the  order  reached  Brig. 
Gen.  Wadsworth,  the  battle  was  renewed  by  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and  increased 
numbers,  which  compelled  the  Americans,  whose  strength  and  ammunition  were  nearly 
exhausted  by  hard  fighting  for  eleven  hours,  and  with  very  little  intermission,  to  give  way. 
The  number  of  killed  is  considerable  on  both  sides,  but  the  Americans  have  lost  many 
prisoners,  including  about  60  officers,  most  of  whom  are  wounded.  Among  the  prisoners 
are  Lieut.  Cols.  Scott,  Christie,  and  Fenwick,  of  the  United  States  troops:  Gen.  Wads¬ 
worth  and  Col.  Stranahan  of  the  militia.  Maj.  Gen.  Brock,  of  the  British,  is  among  the 
slain,  and  his  aid-de-camp  mortally  wounded.  The  whole  number  of  Americans  said  to 
have  been  engaged  is  about  1,600,  of  which  900  were  regular  troops  and  700  militia. — 
On  the  14th,  an  arrangement  was  made  between  Maj.  Gen.  Van.  Rensselaer  and  Gen. 
Sheafe  for  the  liberation  of  all  the  militia  prisoners  on  parole,  not  to  serve  during  the  war.” 

The  following  from  the  Albany  Register,  Extra,  contains  some  ad¬ 
ditional  particulars. 

“  A  large  body  of  the  enemy  got  behind  a  stone  guard-house,  in  which  was  mounted  a 
pair  of  heavy  ordnance.  Two  eighteen  pounders  were  directed  against  it,  which  raked 
them  severely ;  and  at  the  8th  shot  tumbled  up  a  heap  of  men  and  dismounted  one  gun. 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


219 


They  fled  behind  Judge  Hamilton’s  store-house  ;  but  our  eighteens  raked  them  from  thence 
and  they  fled.  By  this  time,  about  ten  o’clock,  the  enemy’s  fire,  except  one  gun  out  of 
reach,  was  sileuced,  and  victory  seemed  complete.  The  general  had  passed  over  to  the 
heights,  but  sent  hack  to  urge  on  the  troops  which  were  passing  over  to  head  the  columns. 
At  this  time,  however,  the  enemy  received  a  reinforcement  of  several  hundred  of  Chippe- 
way  Indians,  and  commenced  an  attack  with  great  fury.  The  rifle  and  the  bayonet  had 
scarcely  put  them  to  rout,  and  drove  them  to  the  woods,  when  they  were  joined  by  a  large 
reinforcement  of  regulars  from  Fort  George.  They  renewed  the  attack,  and  the  conflict 
became  tremendous.  It  lasted  about  half  an  hour,  when  our  valiant  Spartan  band,  who 
had  waded  through  blood  anticipating  victory,  being  exhausted  in  strength  and  ammuni¬ 
tion,  were  obliged  to  yield  the  day.  They  had  fought  eleven  hours  without  intermission.” 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  affair  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  was  estimated  at  1,000  ;  of  this  number  about  90  are  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  killed.  The  militia,  previous  to  the  action,  insist¬ 
ed  on  being  led  on  against  the  enemy  to  drive  them  from  the  Niagara 
peninsula,  so  that  they  could  return  home.  Many  of  them  threatened 
to  leave  the  camp  unless  led  to  immediate  action.  After  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  battle,  the  sight  of  the  wounded,  as  they  were 
brought  across  the  river  covered  with  blood,  and  the  groans  of  the  dy¬ 
ing,  cooled  their  military  ardor.  They  now  appeared  to  have  made 
the  discovery  that  the  constitution  did  not  require  them  to  go  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  United  States.  Rather  than  cross  over  to  an  enemy’s 
country,  be  shot  at,  with  a  chance  of  being  killed,  or  made  cripples  for 
life,  they  determined  to  forego  their  chance  of  obtaining  military  honors. 
It  is  said  that  several  hundred  of  the  militia,  after  they  had  crossed 
over  to  the  Canadian  shore,  availed  themselves  of  the  darkness  and 
other  facilities  to  hide  themselves  in  the  clefts  of  the  rocks,  where 
they  remained  in  concealment  during  the  day,  and  were  only  dragged 
by  the  legs  from  their  lurking  places  by  the  British  troops,  after  the 
surrender  of  the  fighting  part  of  the  Americans. 

The  village  of  Niagara  Falls  is  situated  at  the  celebrated  Falls  of 
Niagara  river,  lat.  43°  6'  N.,  long.  2°  6'  W.  The  village  was  laid  out 
by  Augustus  Porter,  Esq.,  and  others,  in  1805.  It  was  at  first  called 
Manchester,  afterward  Niagara  Falls.  The  village  contains  2  churches, 
2  splendid  hotels,  and  3  other  public  houses,  2  public  schools,  80 
dwellings  of  all  kinds,  and  500  inhabitants.  Distance  from  Albany 
290  miles,  New  York  440,  Buffalo  22,  Lockport  18,  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
403,  Kingston,  U.  C.,  200,  Montreal  388,  Quebec  568,  Detroit  332, 
Cincinnati  468,  and  Washington  703  miles.  Pop.  1,261. 

“The  river  Niagara  is  35  miles  in  length,  and  flows  northerly; 
about  midway  between  the  two  lakes  it  separates  into  two  channels, 
forming  Grand  Island.  A  short  distance  below  the  union  of  these 
channels  are  the  falls  of  Niagara,  the  grandest  cataract  in  the  world. 
Half  a  mile  above  the  falls  the  river  is  a  furious  rapid,  which  sweeps 
away  to  certain  destruction  every  thing  involved  in  it.  The  river  is 
here  three  quarters  of  a  mile  broad,  and  from  this  point  it  rushes 
down  with  increased  velocity  to  the  fall,  where  it  leaps  in  an  immense 
mass  down  a  perpendicular  precipice  160  feet  in  depth,  with  a  roar 
heard  in  favorable  states  of  the  wind  and  atmosphere,  5,  10,  20,  or 
even  30  miles.  The  cataract  forms  an  irregular  semicircle,  the 
deepest  hollow  of  which  is  called  Horse-shoe  Fall,  and  is  on  the 


220 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


View  of  Niagara  Falls  from  the  American  side. 

Canada  side.  At  the  brink  of  the  fall  stands  a  small  island,  called 
Goat  Island,  which  separates  the  Canada  from  the  American  fall.  A 
bridge  is  thrown  across  the  falls  from  the  American  side  to  the  island. 
On  the  British  side,  a  few  yards  below,  is  a  projection  called  Table 
Rock,  commanding  a  magnificent  view  of  the  falls.  From  this  rock 
a  spiral  staircase  leads  down  to  the  foot  of  the  cataract,  where  visit¬ 
ers  may  pass  under  the  fall  between  the  sheet  of  water  and  the  rock. 
The  path  leads  far  under  the  excavated  bank  of  the  river,  which  in 
some  places  forms  a  roof  overhanging  30  or  40  feet.  The  fall  of 
such  an  immense  mass  of  water  produces  violent  whirls  in  the  air, 
and  the  spray  is  driven  out  with  such  force  that  no  one  can  approach 
the  edge  of  the  cataract  without  being  drenched  to  the  skin.  It  is 
difficult  even  to  draw  a  breath  here,  and  in  entering  this  tremendous 
cavern,  there  is  danger  of  being  blinded  by  the  strong  driving  showers 
of  spray,  The  greatest  distance  to  which  it  is  possible  to  pass  within 
this  sheet  of  water  is  about  150  feet.  The  banks  of  the  river  for 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


221 


several  miles  below  the  falls  are  perpendicular  precipices  of  rock,  and 
there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  cataract  was  formerly  much 
further  down  the  river,  the  rock  having  gradually  worn  away  to  the 
present  spot.  A  cloud  of  spray  is  continually  rising  from  the  foam 
of  water,  and  exhibiting  in  the  sunshine  a  brilliant  rainbow.” 

The  above  view  of  the  falls  was  taken  from  the  ferry,  and  shows 
on  the  left  of  Goat  Island,  and  near  to  the  spectator,  the  American 
fall,  and  to  the  right  of  the  island  and  in  the  distance,  the  Crescent  or 
Horse-shoe  fall.  The  cataract  on  the  American  side  is  164,  and  on 
the  Canada  side  158  feet  in  height.  The  stone  tower  seen  in  the 
view  is  connected  with  Goat  Island  by  the  Terrapin  bridge,  a  struc¬ 
ture  300  feet  in  length,  and  projecting  10  feet  over,  the  tails.  This 
tower,  45  feet  in  height,  with  winding  steps  to  the  top,  was  erected  in 
1833,  from  which,  or  from  the  end  of  the  bridge,  the  view  is  awfully 
sublime.  Apart  from  the  falls,  this  whole  region  is  one  of  deep  inter¬ 
est,  from  the  other  natural  curiosities  and  the  historical  reminiscences 
with  which  it  is  connected.  The  visiter  should  not  fail  to  visit  the 
whirlpool  in  the  Niagara  river,  3  miles  below  the  village.  “  A  mile 
from  the  whirlpool,  the  road  runs  within  a  few  feet  of  the  river’s 
bank,  where  a  deep  and  gloomy  chasm  is  rent  or  worn  out  of  the 
rock.  This  is  called  the  Devil's  Hole,  and  the  small  stream  which 
crosses  the  road  and  falls  into  the  chasm,  is  the  Bloody  Run.”  In 
1759,  during  the  old  French  and  Indian  war,  a  detachment  of  100 
British  regulars,  who  were  conveying  provisions,  in  wagons,  to  Fort 
Schlosser,  were  here  surprised  by  a  party  of  Indians  in  ambuscade. 
“  Many  of  the  soldiers  were  killed  at  the  first  discharge,  and  the 
others  were  thrown  into  hopeless  confusion.  The  Indians  fell  like 
tigers  upon  the  drivers,  tomahawked  them  in  their  seats,  and  threw 
them  under  foot.  The  wagons  were  backed  off  the  precipice,  and 
men  and  cattle  fell  with  their  loading  in  one  dismembered  and  muti¬ 
lated  mass  below.  Some  threw  themselves  from  the  bank,  and  fell 
mangled  and  dying  on  the  rocks ;  others  lodged  in  the  branches  of 
the  trees,  where  they  remained,  disabled,  until  the  affray  was  over, 
when  the  savages,  at  their  leisure,  despatched  them.”  The  brook 
that  courses  the  bank  ran  red  with  the  blood  of  the  slain.  Only  four 
escaped  to  relate  the  horrible  fate  of  their  companions.  Pieces  of 
wagons  and  other  relics  of  this  bloody  affray  remained  in  this  vicinity 
until  within  a  few  years,  but  have  now  mouldered  away. 

The  immediate  vicinity  of  the  falls  is  rendered  memorable  on  ac¬ 
count  of  its  being  the  place  where  a  number  of  bloody  battles  were 
fought  during  the  last  war.  The  battle  of  Chippewa  was  fought  on 
the  6th  of  July,  1814,  at  the  village  of  that  name,  on  the  Canada  side, 
about  two  miles  from  the  falls.  In  July,  the  British  and  American 
forces  being  near  each  other,  Gen.  Ripley  ordered  Gen.  Scott  to 
make  an  advance  on  Chippewa. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth,  General  Scott  advanced  with  his  brigade  and  corps  of 
artillery,  and  took  a  position  on  the  Chippewa  plain,  half  a  mile  in  front  of  the  village,  his 
right  resting  on  the  river,  and  his  front  protected  by  a  ravine.  The  British  were  encamped 
in  force  at  the  village.  In  the  evening  General  Brown  joined  him  with  the  reserve  under 
General  Ripley,  and  the  artillery  commanded  by  Major  Hindman.  Qeneral  Porter  arrived 


222 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


the  next  morning,  with  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  a  number  of  In- 
dians  of  the  Six  Nations.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  British  commenced  a  firing 
on  the  pickets.  Captain  Trott,  who  commanded  one  of  them,  hastily  retreated,  leaving 
one  of  his  men  wounded  on  the  ground.  General  Brown  instantly  ordered  him  to  retire 
from  the  army,  and  directed  Captain  Biddle  to  assume  the  command  of  the  picket,  lead  it 
back  to  the  ground,  and  bring  off  the  wounded  man  ;  which  he  accomplished  without  loss. 
At  four  in  the  afternoon,  General  Porter  advanced,  taking  the  woods  in  order  to  conceal 
his  approach,  and  in  the  hope  of  bringing  their  pickets  and  scouting  parties  between  his  line  of 
march  and  the  American  camp.  In  half  an  hour  his  advance  met  the  light  parties  of  the  Brit, 
ish  in  the  woods  on  the  left.  These  were  driven  in,  and  Porter,  advancing  near  Chippewa, 
met  the  whole  British  force  approaching  in  order  of  battle.  General  Scott,  with  his  brigade 
and  Towson’s  artillery,  met  them  on  the  plain,  in  front  of  the  American  encampment,  and 
was  directly  engaged  in  close  action  with  the  main  body.  General  Porter’s  command  gave 
way,  and  fled  in  every  direction,  by  which  Scott’s  left  flank  was  entirely  uncovered.  Cap. 
tain  Harris,  with  his  dragoons,  was  ordered  to  stop  the  fugitives,  at  the  ravine,  and  form 
them  in  front  of  the  fcamp.  The  reserve  were  now  ordered  up,  and  General  Ripley  passed 
to  the  woods  in  left  of  the  line  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  enemy ;  but  before  this  was  effected, 
General  Scott  had  compelled  the  British  to  retire.  Their  whole  line  now  fell  back,  and 
were  eagerly  pursued  by  the  Americans.  As  soon  as  they  reached  the  sloping  ground  de¬ 
scending  towards  the  village,  their  lines  broke,  and  they  regained  their  works  in  disorder. 
The  American  troops  pursued  until  within  reach  of  the  guns  from  the  works ;  when  they 
desisted  and  returned  to  their  camp.  The  British  left  two  hundred  dead  on  the  ground, 
ninety-four  wounded,  beside  those  in  the  early  part  of  the  action,  who  were  removed  back 
to  the  camp,  and  fourteen  prisoners.  The  American  loss  was  sixty  killed,  and  two  hun. 
dred  and  sixty-eight  wounded  and  missing.” — Perkin's  Hist,  of  the  Late  War. 

The  battle  of  Bridgewater  or  Lundy's  Lane,  was  fought  on  the 
25th  of  July.  The  principal  scene  of  this  bloody  action,  was  at  an 
obscure  road,  called  Lundy’s  Lane,  about  half  a  mile  westward  from 
the  Niagara  cataract.  “  The  thunder  of  the  cannon,  the  roaring  of 
the  falls,  the  incessant  discharge  of  musketry,  the  groans  of  the  dying 
and  wounded,  during  the  six  hours  in  which  the  parties  were  engaged 
in  close  combat,  heightened  by  the  circumstances  of  its  being  in  the 
night,  afforded  such  a  scene  as  is  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  the  annals 
of  slaughter.  The  evening  was  calm,  and  the  moon  shone  with 
lustre  when  not  enveloped  in  clouds  of  smoke  from  the  firing  of  the 
contending  armies.”  Since  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  from  Chippewa, 
they  had  received  reinforcements  of  troops  from  Lord  Wellington’s 
army  in  Spain;  and  on  the  25th  of  July,  encamped  on  a  hill,  with 
the  design  of  attacking  the  Americans  the  next  morning. 

“  On  the  25th  ult.,  the  army  under  the  command  of  Major  Gen.  Brown  encamped  above 
Chippewa,  near  the  battle  ground  of  the  5th.  At  4  P.  M.,  information  was  received  that 
the  enemy  had  thrown  a  body  of  troops  across  the  Niagara,  at  the  five-mile  meadows ;  but 
our  commanding  general  was  not  diverted  by  this  movement.  The  1st  brigade,  under  Brig. 
Gen.  Scott,  moved  past  Chippewa  and  halted  at  Bridgewater,  a  mile  below  Chippewa,  in 
plain  view  of  Niagara  Falls.  Gen.  Scott  learnt  that  the  enemy,  under  Gen.  Riall,  was  ap¬ 
proaching  him.  Battle  was  immediately  given  the  enemy,  near  Mr.  Wilson’s,  at  half  past 
4  P.  M. ;  their  cannon  were  planted  about  200  rods  from  this  position  on  an  eminence. 
The  enemy’s  numerical  force  was  much  superior  to  Gen.  Scott’s ;  his  line  was  far  extended, 
and  he  showed  a  disposition  to  flank. — In  order  to  counteract  these  views  of  Gen.  Riall,  he 
was  fought  in  detachments — he  was  charged  in  column;  Gen.  Scott  being  at  the  head  of 
his  troops  in  almost  every  charge. — Capt.  Towson,  with  his  company  of  artillery,  attached 
to  Scott’s  brigade,  kept  up  his  fire  with  great  vigor  and  effect.  The  action  was  continued, 
and  the  ground  maintained  by  Gen.  Scott,  for  more  than  an  hour,  before  the  reserve  under 
Gen.  Ripley,  and  the  volunteers  under  Gen.  Porter,  were  successfully  brought  into  action. 

“  The  ground  was  obstinately  contested  until  past  9  o’clock,  in  the  evening,  when  Gen. 
Brown  perceiving  that  the  enemy’s  artillery  was  most  destructive,  decided  to  storm  the 
battery.  Col.  Miller,*  the  hero  of  Magagua,  was  ordered  to  this  enterprise  ;  he  approached 


*  On  receiving  this  order  from  Gen.  Brown,  Col.  Miller  calmly  surveyed  the  position,  and 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


223 


tne  enemy’s  cannon  with  a  quick  step,  and  delivered  his  fire  within  a  few  paces  of  the 
enemy’s  line  ;  who,  after  receiving  two  or  three  rounds  and  a  vigorous  charge,  retired  to  the 
bottom  of  the  hill,  and  abandoned  his  cannon.  Only  one  piece  was  brought  off  the  field 
for  want  of  horses.  The  enemy  now  gave  way  and  retreated  ;  they  were  followed  some 
distance.  Our  army  was  now  employed  in  securing  the  prisoners  and  bringing  off  the 
wounded. — The  cessation  however  was  short :  Lieut.  General  Drummond  is  supposed  to 
have  arrived  at  this  interval  with  a  reinforcement.  The  enemy  renewed  the  action,  whilst 
our  troops  were  busily  employed  in  clearing  the  ground  of  the  wounded  ;  but  the  gallant 
Americans  formed  with  alacrity,  and  after  a  close  engagement  of  20  minutes,  the  enemy 
were  repulsed.  The  army  now  effected  the  removal  of  nearly  if  not  all  of  the  wounded, 
and  retired  from  the  ground,  it  being  nearly  12  o’clock  at  night ;  they  returned  to  their  en¬ 
campment  in  good  order.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  our  forces  under  Generals  Ripley 
and  Porter,  reconnoitred  the  enemy  near  the  battle  ground,  returned  and  burnt  the  Bridge- 
water  mills,  and  all  the  enemy’s  barracks,  and  the  bridge  at  Chippewa,  and  passed  up  the 
river  to  Fort  Erie,  where  they  made  a  stand.  The  enemy’s  force  engaged  must  have  been 
nearly  5,000 ;  ours  short  of  that  number.  Major-Gen.  Riall  was  wounded,  and  taken  in 
the  rear  of  his  army  by  Capt.  Ketchum,  together  with  one  of  his  aids,  the  other  being  killed. 

“  Major-Gen.  Brown  was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh  (besides  a  contusion  on  his  body) 
in  the  hottest  of  the  action,  but  continued  to  command  until  the  enemy  retreated.  Brig. 
Gen.  Scott  was  also  severely  wounded  by  a  grape  in  the  shoulder,  besides  a  severe  bruise 
occasioned  by  a  shell  or  cannon  shot,  having  lost  2  horses,  killed.  Col.  Brady  22d  infan¬ 
try;  Majors  Jessup  25th,  Leavenworth  9th,  M’Niel  11th;  Brigade-major  Smith;  Lieuts. 
Campbell  and  Smouck,  artillery ;  Lieut.  Worth, aid  to  Gen.  Scott;  Lieut.  Camp  11th;  together 
with  many  others,  whose  names  we  have  not  learnt,  were  wounded,  some  badly. — The 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  rising  800,  exclusive  of  200  regulars  and  20 
officers  prisoners.  Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  is  from  6  to  700.  Major 
M’Farland  23d,  Capt.  Ritchie,  artillery,  Capts.  Kinney  and  Goodrich,  Lieut.  Bigelow,  infan¬ 
try,  and  several  other  officers,  killed ;  Capt.  Spencer,  aid  to  Major-Gen.  Brown,  supposed  to 
be  mortally  wounded  ;  Major  Stanton,  of  the  New  York  volunteers,  Adj.  Pew,  of  the  Penn¬ 
sylvania  volunteers,  killed.  Major  Camp,  of  the  staff,  lost  two  horses  on  the  field,  but  es¬ 
caped  a  wound.  The  9th,  11th,  and  25th,  suffered  very  severely.” 


View  of  Schlosser  Landing,  Niagara. 

The  above  is  a  northern  view  of  the  steamboat  landing  at  Porter’s 
storehouse,  commonly  called  Schlosser  Landing,  upwards  of  two 

answered,  “  I  will  try ,  sir  /”  which  expression  was  afterward  the  motto  of  his  regiment. 
During  the  battle  in  the  evening,  Capt.  Ambrose  Spencer,  son  of  the  chief-justice  of  New 
York,  and  aid  to  Gen.  Brown,  was  despatched  with  orders  to  one  of  the  regiments;  when 
about  to  deliver  them,  he  suddenly  found  himself  in  contact  with  a  British  corps ;  with  great 
coolness  and  a  firm  air,  he  inquired  what  regiment  is  this  ?  On  being  answered,  the  Royal 
Scots,  he  immediately  replied,  “  Royal  Scots,  remain  as  you  are."  The  commandant  of  the 
corps,  supposing  the  orders  came  from  his  commanding  general,  immediately  halted  his  re¬ 
giment,  and  Captain  Spencer  rode  off.  Captain  Spencer  was  afterward  mortally  wounded, 
and  taken  prisoner.  Capt.  Loring,  the  aid  of  Gen.  Drummond,  was  also  taken  prisoner 
He  was  exchanged  for  the  corpse  of  Capt.  Spencer. 


224 


NIAGARA  COUNTY. 


miles  from  the  falls.  The  site  of  old  Fort  Schlosser  is  nearly  a  mile 
below  the  landing  :  it  was  anciently  a  stoccade  built  upon  banks  slightly 
raised  above  the  plain.  The  steamboat  Caroline,  the  burning  of  which 
has  caused  so  much  sensation  on  the  frontiers,  lay  beside  the  store¬ 
house  represented  in  the  engraving.  Part  of  the  village  of  Chippewa, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Niagara  river,  is  seen  on  the  right  in  the 
extreme  distance.  Navy  Island,  so  celebrated  as  a  place  of  resort  for 
the  Canadian  patriots,  or  rebels,  as  they  are  alternately  called,  is  seen 
to  the  left  beyond  the  store-house.  The  following  passages,  relative 
to  the  transactions  on  Navy  Island,  while  in  possession  of  the  patri¬ 
ots,  and  the  burning  of  the  Caroline,  are  extracted  from  “De  Veaux’s 
Falls  of  Niagara.” 

“  About  the  middle  of  the  month  of  December,  1837,  twenty-eight  men,  principally  Ca¬ 
nadians,  with  Rensselaer  Van  Rensselaer  and  William  Lyon  Mackenzie,  went  on  Navy 
Island.  They  called  to  them  the  patriots  of  Canada,  and  all  others  the  friends  of  that 
cause.  In  the  space  of  three  weeks,  between  three  and  four  hundred  responded  to  the 
call:  some  from  the  United  States,  and  some  from  Canada.  They  brought  with  them 
arms  and  provisions.  They  stayed  on  the  island  for  one  month,  and  then,  at  their  own 
choice,  left  it,  and  not  in  fear  of  their  opponents.  Opposite  to  them  were  assembled  five 
thousand  men,  consisting  of  British  regulars,  incorporated  militia,  and  a  body  of  Indians 
and  negroes.  Batteries  were  erected,  and  balls  and  shells  were,  at  intervals,  cast  upon  the 
island.  The  islanders  were  incessantly  in  a  state  of  danger  and  alarm  ;  yet  they  would, 
at  times,  provokingly  return  the  fire;  still  they  remained  unattacked.  Fora  month,  a 
raw,  undisciplined  band  of  men,  in  the  severity  of  winter,  with  no  shelter  but  such  as  they 
then  constructed,  and  miserably  clad,  set  at  defiance  and  laughed  at  the  overwhelming 
force,  which  lay  so  near  to  them  that  they  frequently  conversed  together. 

“  The  steamboat  Caroline  came  from  Buffalo,  on  the  29th  of  December,  it  was  said,  to 
ply  as  a  ferry-boat  between  Schlosser  and  Navy  Island.  It  passed,  that  day,  forth  and 
back  several  times,  and  before  sun-down  was  brought  to  the  wharf  at  Schlosser,  and 
moored  for  the  night.  At  that  place  there  was  but  one  house,  and  that  a  tavern.  The 
warlike  movements  between  the  patriots  and  British  had  drawn  to  the  frontier,  through 
motives  of  curiosity,  a  great  number  of  persons.  The  tavern  was  crowded — lodgings  could 
not  be  obtained — and  several  persons,  observing  the  steamboat,  sought  for  accommoda¬ 
tions  on  board,  and  were  received.  In  the  middle  of  the  night,  the  watch,  for  a  watch  on 
board  steamboats  is  usually  kept,  saw  something  advancing  on  the  water.  He  hailed,  but 
before  he  could  give  the  alarm  a  body  of  armed  men  rushed  on  board,  shot  at  the  sentinel 
and  all  they  met,  crying — ‘  Cut  them  down  T  ‘  Give  no  quarter  /’  No  arms  were  on 
board  of  the  boat ;  no  attack  was  expected  ;  and  no  resistance  was  made.  Some  got  on 
shore  uninjured  ;  others  were  severely  cut  and  dangerously  wounded.  One  man  was 
shot  dead  on  the  wharf,  and  twelve  were  missing,  either  killed,  or  burnt  and  sunk  with 
the  boat.  They  towed  the  boat  out  in  the  river,  and  set  it  on  fire ;  the  flames  burst 
forth;  it  drifted  slowly,  and  its  blaze  shone  far  and  wide  over  the  water  and  adjacent 
shores. 

“  On  the  Canada  side,  at  a  distance  above  Chippewa,  was  burning  a  large  light,  as  a  signal 
to  those  engaged  in  the  expedition.  In  a  short  time,  an  astounding  shout  came  booming  over 
the  water :  it  was  for  the  success  and  return  of  those  who  had  performed  this  deed.  The 
beacon  was  extinguished.  The  Caroline  still  moved  on,  and  cast  its  lurid  light  far  and 
wide,  clothing  the  scene  in  gloom  and  horror  ;  and  just  below  the  point  of  Iris  Island,  sud¬ 
denly  disappeared.  Many  of  the  wrecked  and  charred  remains  were,  the  next  morning, 
floating  in  the  current  and  eddies  below  the  falls.” 

Youngstown,  port  of  delivery  on  the  Niagara  river,  1  mile  above 
Lake  Ontario,  19  miles  NW.  from  Lockport,  has  about  40  dwell¬ 
ings. 

The  following  is  a  distant  view  of  Fort  Niagara  as  seen  from  near 
the  lighthouse  on  the  British  side.  The  engraving  from  which  the 
above  was  copied,  was  published  during  the  last  war,  and  shows  its 


NIAGARA  COUNTY, 


225 


Distant  view  of  Fort  Niagara. 


appearance  at  that  period.  On  the  19th  of  Dec.,  1813,  a  British  force 
of  more  than  1,200  men  crossed  over  and  took  the  fort  by  surprise. 
The  garrison  consisted  of  but  370,  and  the  commander  was  absent, 
and  the  gates  of  the  fort  were  open  and  unguarded.  The  result  of  the 
attack  was  as  might  have  been  expected — sixty-five  of  the  garrison 
were  killed  ;  twenty-seven  pieces  of  ordnance  and  large  quantities 
of  military  stores  were  taken.  The  following  interesting  historical 
account  of  this  place,  is  taken  from  “  De  Veaux’s  Falls  of  Niagara,” 
published  in  1839. 

“  This  fortress  is  in  latitude  43  deg.  14  sec.  N.  In  1679,  a  small  spot  was  enclosed  by 
palisades,  by  M.  De  Salle,  an  officer  in  the  service  of  France.  In  1725,  the  fort  was 
built.  In  1759,  it  was  taken  by  the  British,  under  Sir  William  Johnson.  The  capture  has 
been  ascribed  to  treachery,  though  there  is  not  known  to  be  any  existing  authority  to  prove 
the  charge.  In  1796,  it  was  surrendered  to  the  United  States.  On  the  19th  of  December, 
1813,  it  was  again  taken  by  the  British,  by  surprise;  and  in  March,  1815,  again  surren¬ 
dered  to  the  Americans.  This  old  fort  is  as  much  noted  for  enormity  and  crime,  as  for  any 
good  ever  derived  from  it  by  the  nation  in  occupation.  While  in  the  hands  of  the  French, 
there  is  no  doubt  of  its  having  been,  at  times,  used  as  a  prison ;  its  close  and  impregnable 
dungeons,  where  light  was  not  admitted,  and  where  remained,  for  many  years  after,  clear 
traces,  and  a  part  of  the  ready  instruments  for  execution,  or  for  murder.  During  the  Ameri 
can  revolution,  it  was  the  head-quarters  of  all  that  was  barbarous,  unrelenting,  and  cruel. 
There,  were  congregated  the  leaders  and  chiefs  of  those  bands  of  murderers  and  miscreants, 
that  carried  death  and  destruction  into  the  remote  American  settlements.  There,  civilized 
Europe  revelled  with  savage  America ;  and  ladies  of  education  and  refinement  mingled  in 
the  society  of  those  whose  only  distinction  was  to  wield  the  bloody  tomahawk  and  scalping- 
knife.  There,  the  Squaws  of  the  forest  were  raised  to  eminence,  and  the  most  unholy 
unions  between  them  and  officers  of  the  highest  rank,  smiled  upon  and  countenanced. 
There,  in  their  stronghold,  like  a  nest  of  vultures,  securely,  for  seven  years,  they  sallied 
forth  and  preyed  upon  the  distant  settlements  of  the  Mohawks  and  Susquehannahs.  It  was 
the  depot  of  their  plunder ;  there  they  planned  their  forays,  and  there  they  returned  to  feast, 
until  the  hour  of  action  came  again. 

“  Fort  Niagara  is  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  stands  on  a  point  of  land  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Niagara  river.  It  is  a  traditionary  story,  that  the  mess-house,  which  is  a  very  strong 
building  and  the  largest  in  the  fort,  was  erected  by  stratagem.  A  considerable,  though  not 
powerful  body  of  French  troops,  had  arrived  at  the  point.  Their  force  was  inferior  to  the 
surrounding  Indians,  of  whom  they  were  under  some  apprehensions.  They  obtained  con¬ 
sent  of  the  Indians  to  build  a  wigwam,  and  induced  them,  with  some  of  their  officers,  to 
engage  in  an  extensive  hunt.  The  materials  had  been  made  ready,  and,  while  the  Indians 
were  absent,  the  French  built.  When  the  parties  returned,  at  night,  they  had  advanced 
so  far  with  the  work,  as  to  cover  their  faces,  and  to  defend  themselves  against  the  savages, 
in  case  of  an  attack.  In  progress  of  time,  it  became  a  place  of  considerable  strength.  It  had 

29 


226 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


its  bastions,  ravines ;  its  ditch  and  pickets ;  its  curtains  and  counterscarp ;  its  covered  way ; 
drawbridge,  raking-batteries  ;  its  stone  towers,  laboratory,  and  magazine  ;  its  mess-house, 
barracks,  bakery,  and  blacksmith  shop ;  and,  for  worship,  a  chapel,  with  a  large  ancient 
dial  over  the  door,  to  mark  the  hourly  course  of  the  sun.  It  was,  indeed,  a  little  city  of 
itself,  and  for  a  long  period  the  greatest  place  south  of  Montreal,  or  west  of  Albany.  The 
fortifications  originally  covered  a  space  of  about  eight  acres.  At  a  few  rods  from  the  bar¬ 
rier  gate  was  the  burying  ground ;  it  was  filled  with  memorials  of  the  mutability  of  hu¬ 
man  life  ;  and  over  the  portals  of  the  entrance  was  painted,  in  large  and  emphatic  char¬ 
acters,  the  word  *  REST.’ 

“  It  is  generally  believed,  that  some  of  the  distant  fortresses  of  France  were  often  con¬ 
verted  into  state  prisons,  as  well  as  for  defensive  purposes.  There  was  much  about  Fort 
Niagara  to  establish  the  belief  that  it  had  been  used  as  such.  The  dungeon  of  the  mess- 
house,  called  the  black-hole,  was  a  strong,  dark,  and  dismal  place  ;  and  in  one  corner  of 
the  room  was  fixed  the  apparatus  for  strangling  such  unhappy  wretches  as  fell  under  the 
displeasure  of  the  despotic  rulers  of  those  days.  The  walls  of  this  dungeon,  from  top  to 
bottom,  had  engraved  upon  them  French  names,  and  mementoes  in  that  language.  That 
the  prisoners  were  no  common  persons  was  clear,  as  the  letters  and  emblems  were  chis¬ 
elled  out  in  good  style.  In  June,  1812,  when  an  attack  was  momentarily  expected  upon 
the  fort  by  a  superior  British  force,  a  merchant,  resident  at  Fort  Niagara,  deposited  some 
valuable  articles  in  this  dungeon.  He  took  occasion,  one  night,  to  visit  it  with  a  light ; 
he  examined  the  walls,  and  there,  among  hundreds  of  French  names,  he  saw  his  own 
family  name  engraved  in  large  letters.  He  took  no  notes,  and  has  no  recollection  of  the 
other  names  and  memorials ;  he  intended  to  repeat  his  visit,  and  to  extend  his  examina¬ 
tion,  but  other  avocations  caused  the  subject  to  be  neglected  ;  and  it  was  not  brought  to 
mind  again  until  of  late  years,  when  all  was  changed.  In  further  corroboration  that  Fort 
Niagara  had  witnessed  scenes  of  guilt  and  foul  murder,  was  the  fact  that,  in  1805,  it  be¬ 
came  necessary  to  clear  out  an  old  sink  attached  to  the  mess-house.  The  bones  of  a  fe¬ 
male  were  found  therein,  evidently,  from  the  place  where  discovered,  the  victim  of  some 
atrocious  crime. 

“  There  were  many  legendary  stories  about  the  fort.  In  the  centre  of  the  mess-house 
was  a  well  of  water,  but,  it  having  been  poisoned  by  some  of  the  former  occupants,  in 
latter  years  the  water  was  not  used ;  and  it  was  a  story  with  the  soldiers,  and  believed  by 
the  superstitious,  that  at  midnight  the  headless  trunk  of  a  French  general  officer  was  often 
seen  sitting  on  the  curb  of  the  old  well,  where  he  had  been  murdered,  and  his  body  thrown 
in  ;  and,  according  to  dreamers  and  money-diggers,  large  treasures,  both  in  gold  and  sil¬ 
ver,  have  been  buried  in  many  of  the  nooks  and  corners  of  the  old  fort.  Many  applica¬ 
tions  used  to  be  made  to  the  American  officers,  to  dig  for  money,  and  persons  have  been 
known  to  come  from  a  considerable  distance  for  that  purpose.  The  requests  were,  of 
course,  refused.” 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 

Oneida  county  was  taken  from  Herkimer  in  1789  ;  since  much  re¬ 
duced  by  the  formation  of  other  counties.  Oneida  is  a  corruption  of 
the  Indian  word  Oneiyuta,  signifying  upright  or  standing  stone. 
Greatest  length  N.  and  8>.  47,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  40  miles. 
From  New  York  NW.  252,  from  Albany  107  miles.  The  surface 
has  just  diversity  and  unevenness  enough  to  form  a  pleasing  variety, 
and  to  supply  brisk  streams  of  pure  water,  and  a  salubrious  atmo¬ 
sphere.  Hardly  a  farm  is  without  perpetual  streams  and  brooks. 
The  northeast  and  southern  parts  approach  a  hilly  character,  a  wa¬ 
ving  surface  with  an  easy  swell ;  the  northwest  part  is  tolerably  level, 
and  the  central  richly  variegated  with  easy  undulations.  The  soil  is 
of  various  qualities,  but  everywhere  rich  and  productive.  The  cot¬ 
ton  and  woollen  manufactures  are  carried  on  here  more  extensively 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


227 


than  in  any  other  county  in  the  state.  The  Erie  canal  crosses  this 
county,  following  the  south  side  of  the  Mohawk  river  to  Rome,  and 
there  turns  southwestward  into  Madison  county.  This  section  of  the 
canal'  is  part  of  the  long  level  69|  miles  in  length,  extending  from 
Frankfort  in  Herkimer  county  to  Syracuse  in  Onondaga.  The  route 
of  the  Chenango  canal,  which  unites  the  Susquehannah  river  with  the 
Erie  canal,  leaves  the  latter  at  Utica,  passing  thence  into  the  valley 
of  the  Oriskany,  and  thence  follows  the  same  into  the  county  of  Madi¬ 
son.  Another  canal  is  also  commenced,  uniting  the  Black  river  with 
the  Erie  canal ;  it  leaves  the  latter  at  Rome,  and  follows  thence  up 
the  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and  crosses  the  dividing  ridge  between 
the  waters  of  the  same  and  the  Black  river  in  the  town  of  Boonville. 
Parts  of  the  Utica  and  Schenectady,  and  Utica  and  Syracuse  rail¬ 
roads,  are  in  this  county.  The  county  buildings  are  located  at  Whites- 
borough,  Utica,  and  Rome.  The  county  is  divided  into  25  towns  and 
the  city  of  Utica  : 


Annsville, 

Augusta, 

Boonville, 

Bridgewater, 

Camden, 

Deerfield, 

Florence, 


Floyd, 

Kirkland, 

Lee, 

Marcy, 

Marshall, 

New  Hartford, 
Paris, 


Remsen, 

Rome, 

Sangerfield, 

Steuben, 

Trenton, 

Utica, 

Vernon, 


Verona, 

Vienna, 

Western, 

Westmoreland, 

Whitestown. 


Utica  city  comprehends  the  former  town  and  village  of  that  name, 
taken  from  Whitestown  in  1817.  It  was  incorporated  a  city  in  1832, 
and  divided  into  four  wards.  Its  population  in  1830,  was  8,323  ;  in 
1850,  17,742.  The  land  on  which  the  city  is  situated  is  a  rich  allu¬ 
vion,  rising  gently  from  the  south  side  of  the  Mohawk  river,  and  was 
formerly  covered  with  a  gigantic  growth  of  forest  trees.  It  is  quite  a 
central  point  for  roads,  canals,  &c.,  to  various  parts  of  the  state. 
Distance  from  Albany  96  miles,  from  New  York  241,  from  Buffalo 
202,  from  Rochester  140,  from  Oswego  76,  from  Sacketts  Harboi 
94,  from  Ithaca  96,  and  from  Ogdensburg  145  miles.  It  contains 
14  churches — 3  Presbyterian,  2  Methodist,  2  Baptist,  1  Episcopal,  1 
Dutch  Reformed,  1  Welsh  Presbyterian,  1  Catholic,  1  Friends,  1 
Bethel,  and  1  Universalist.  There  are  three  banks,  with  an  aggre¬ 
gate  capital  of  one  million  and  a  half  of  dollars.  The  buildings  are 
generally  very  good,  the  stories  large  and  splendid.  There  are  nine 
periodical  publications,  including  newspapers,  4  academies  or  high 
schools,  and  numerous  moral,  religious,  benevolent,  and  scientific  as¬ 
sociations. 

The  Schenectady  and  Utica  Railroad  was  first  opened  on  Monday, 
25th  of  July,  1836.  The  first  train  of  cars,  drawn  by  a  locomotive, 
ran  the  whole  distance  twice  that  day.  This  road  was  constructed  in 
twenty-two  months,  at  an  expense  of  one  and  one  half  millions  of  dol¬ 
lars,  or  $20,000  per  mile  ;  distance  77  miles. 

The  first  building  erected  within  the  limits  of  Utica  was  a  mud  fort, 
constructed  during  the  old  French  war.  It  was  situated  between 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


•  228 

Main-street  and  the  banks  of  the  nyer,  a  little  eastward  of  Second- 
street,  and  named  Fort.  Schuyler,  in  honor  of  Col.  Schuyler,  an 
uncle  of  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  of  the  revolution. 

“  The  settlement  of  Utica  commenced  at  an  early  period,  but  was 
not  prosecuted  with  the  vigor  that  the  neighboring  settlements  were. 
Whitestown  was  regarded  as  the  great  central  point  of  the  whole 
region  up  to  the  years  1793  or  1794.  At  this  period  quite  a  village 
had  grown  up  there,  while  Utica,  or  old  Fort  Schuyler,  as  its  site 
was  then  called,  could  boast  of  but  three  houses.  About  this  time 
the  public  attention  was  directed  to  Rome,  as  the  probable  future  me¬ 
tropolis  of  the  state.  Its  local  position  favored  the  idea.  It  occupied 
the  portage  or  carrying  place  between  the  Mohawk  and  Wood  creek, 
which,  discharging  through  Oneida  lake  into  Lake  Ontario,  formed  a 
channel  of  communication  between  the  Hudson  and  the  whole  chain 
of  western  lakes.  The  connecting  the  two  streams  by  a  navigable 
canal,  which  was  projected  at  a  very  early  day,  and  was  accomplished 
by  the  Western  Inland  Lock  Navigation  Company,  which  was  char¬ 
tered  in  1792,  encouraged  the  belief,  that  that  site  must  become  the 
focus  of  the  business  of  the  country.  And  for  several  years  the 
growth  of  Rome  warranted  the  expectation.  The  location  of  the 
Seneca  turnpike  road  first  operated  to  change  the  current  of  business 
and  divert  it  to  this  location.  This  event  took  place  in  the  year  1800, 
and  the  crossing  of  the  river  at  this  point  rendered  it  immediately  im¬ 
portant  as  a  place  of  deposite  and  of  trade.  A  steady  and  healthful 
growth  ensued,  and  the  aid  and  influence  of  enlightened  and  enter¬ 
prising  men  in  the  various  walks  of  life,  contributed  very  shortly  to 
render  it  the  leading  place  of  business  in  the  neighborhood.  Its  pres¬ 
ent  name  was  given  to  it  in  1798,  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a  vil¬ 
lage,  and  it  has  since  then  continued  its  municipal  Capacity  until  the 
present  day. 

The  first  church  gathered  in  this  city  was  organized  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev.  Bethuel  Dodd,  as  a  branch  of  the  church  at 
Whitestown,  in  the  year  1794.  The  style  of  the  corporation  was — 
“  The  United  Presbyterian  Societies^of  Whitestown  and  old  Fort 
Schuyler.”  Previous  to  that  time,  although  the  people  of  Whitestown 
had  employed  a  clergyman,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hillyer,  whom  I  have  al¬ 
ready  mentioned,  they  had  not  settled  a  pastor.  Mr.  Dodd  was  or¬ 
dained  pastor  of  the  United  Societies.  The  union  of  the  two 
churches  continued  for  more  than  twenty  years,  under  the  pastorates 
of  Mr.  Dodd  and  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Carnahan.  They  were 
the  first  Presbyterian  churches  organized  west  of  the  city  of  Albany, 
those  at  Clinton  and  New  Hartford  being  Congregational  in  their  forms 
of  government.  The  Episcopal  church  in  this  city  was  gathered  in 
1798,  and  its  present  church  edifice  erected  in  1803.” — Tracy's  Lec¬ 
tures. 

Rome,  one  of  the  shiretowns  of  Oneida  county,  was  incorporated 
in  1796.  The  village  of  Rome,  occupying  the  site  of  old  Fort  Stan- 
wix,  was  incorporated  in  1819.  The  two  first  white  families  who  lo¬ 
cated  themselves  at  this  spot,  w#ere  those  of  two  men  from  German  Flats, 


VIEW  IN  GENESEE  STREET,  UTICA,  N.  Y. 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


229 


named  Roof  and  Brodock,  who  settled  at  the  landing  place  on  the 
Mohawk  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Stanwix,  to  gain  a  livelihood  by 
assisting  in  the  transportation  of  goods  destined  for  the  Indian  trade, 
across  the  carrying  place  from  the  river  to  Wood  creek.  They  held 
no  title  to  their  lands,  but  occupied  them  under  a  contract  for  their 
purchase  from  Oliver  Delaney,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Oriskany 
patent,  who  was  afterward  attainted  of  treason.  This  little  outpost, 
however,  was  broken  up  during  the  revolutionary  war.  The  first 
regular  settlement  of  Rome  was  by  emigrants  from  the  New  England 
states. 


Southern  view  of  Rome. 


The  above  is  a  southern  view  of  part  of  the  village  as  viewed  from 
the  railroad  track.  The  building  seen  on  the  right  having  four  chim-  . 
neys  is  but  a  few  yards  distant  from  the  central  part  of  the  fortifica¬ 
tions  of  the  old  fort,  the  cellar  of  which  is  still  to  be  seen.  The 
Black  river  canal  passes  a  few  rods  this  side  of  the  buildings  seen  in 
the  engraving ;  the  Erie  canal  is  about  half  a  mile  westward  of  the 
village.  Mohawk  river  and  Wood  creek,  at  this  place,  approach 
within  a  mile  of  each  other ;  in  1797,  a  canal  was  completed  between 
the  two  streams,  thus  connecting  the  waters  of  the  Mohawk  with 
those  of  Lake  Ontario.  The  village  consists  of  upwards  of  300 
dwellings,  2  Presbyterian,  2  Baptist,  1  Episcopal,  and  1  Methodist 
church,  an  academy  incorporated  in  1835,  a  bank,  printing  office 
and  a  number  of  select  schools.  The  United  States  arsenal  ana 
barracks,  sufficient  for  a  regiment,  were  erected  here  in  1813,  under 
the  direction  of  Maj.  James  Dalliba.  Rome  is  situated  on  the  sum¬ 
mit  level  between  the  ocean  and  Lake  Ontario,  four  hundred  and 
thirty-five  feet  above  tide  at  Albany;  lat.  43°  12';  long.  1°  27'  W. 
from  New  York.  Distant  from  Albany  110,  from  Utica  15  miles. 
Pop.  7,920. 

Fort  Stanwix,  named  from  Gen.  Stanwix,  was  originally  erected 
in  the  year  1758,  during  the  French  war.  It  occupied  a  position 
commanding  the  carrying  place  between  the  navigable  waters  of  the 
Mohawk  and  Wood  creek,  and  was  regarded  as  the  key  to  the  com- 


230 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


munication  between  Canada  and  the  settlements  on  the  Mohawk. 
“  It  was  originally  a  square  fort,  having  four  bastions  surmounted  by 
a  broad  and  deep  ditch,  with  a  covert  way  and  glacis.  In  the  centre 
of  the  ditch  a  row  of  perpendicular  pickets  was  planted,  and  another 
horizontal  row  fixed  around  the  ramparts.  But  although  the  princi¬ 
pal  fortress  had  been  erected  at  the  enormous  expense  for  those  times 
of  $260,400,  yet  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war  the 
whole  was  in  ruins.  On  the  incursion  of  Burgoyne  from  Montreal 
towards  Albany,  a  detachment  of  the  invading  forces,  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Col.  St.  Leger,  consisting  of  200  British  troops,  a  regiment 
of  loyalists,  and  a  large  body  of  Indians  under  Brant,  the  great  cap¬ 
tain  of  the  Six  Nations,  went  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  then  to  Oswego, 
and  from  thence  to  Fort  Stanwix.  From  this  point  it  was  intended 
to  pass  down  the  Mohawk  and  join  the  forces  of  Burgoyne  at  Albany. 
Gen.  Schuyler,  who  had  the  command  of  the  northwestern  frontier, 
sent  Col.  Dayton  to  repair  the  works  at  Fort  Stanwix.  He  seems  to 
have  done  little  towards  effecting  this  object ;  he  however  thought 
proper  to  change  its  name  to  Fort  Schuyler,  which  name  it  retained 
during  the  war.  Gen.  Peter  Gansevoort  was  afterward  sent  to 
supply  his  place.  On  the  3d  of  August,  Col.  St.  Leger  arrived  be¬ 
fore  the  fort  with  his  whole  force,  consisting  of  a  motley  collection 
of  British  regulars,  Hessians,  Tories,  and  about  one  thousand  Indians. 
The  garrison,  under  Col.  Gansevoort,  consisted  of  about  750  men. 
Soon  after  his  arrival,  St.  Leger  sent  a  flag  into  the  fort  with  a  mani¬ 
festo,  advising  submission  to  the  mercy  of  the  king,  and  denouncing 
severe  vengeance  against  those  who  should  continue  in  their  ‘  unnatu¬ 
ral  rebellion.’  This  manifesto  produced  no  effect  on  the  brave  garri¬ 
son,  who  had  determined  to  defend  the  fortress  to  the  last  extremity. 
At  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Oriskany,  [see  Whitestown,]  when  Gen. 
Herkimer  was  advancing  to  the  relief  of  the  fort,  a  diversion  was 
made  in  his  favor,  by  a  sortie  of  250  men,  under  the  command  of 
Col.  Willet.  Such  was  the  impetuosity  of  Willet’s  movements,  that 
Sir  John  Johnson  and  his  regiment,  who  lay  near  the  fort  with  his 
Indian  allies,  sought  safety  in  flight.  The  amount  of  spoil  found  in 
the  enemy’s  camp  was  so  great  that  Willet  sent  hastily  for  wagons 
to  convey  it  away.  The  spoil  thus  captured,  twenty  wagon  loads, 
consisted  of  camp  equipage,  clothing,  blankets,  stores,  &c.,  five 
British  standards,  and  the  baggage  and  papers  of  most  of  the  officers. 
For  this  brilliant  exploit,  congress  directed  that  Col.  Willet  should  be 
presented  with  an  elegant  sword  in  the  name  of  the  United  States. 

The  siege  of  the  fort  still  continued,  and  the  situation  of  the  garri¬ 
son,  though  not  desperate,  began  to  be  somewhat  critical.  Col.  Wil¬ 
let  and  Maj.  Stockwell  readily  undertook  the  hazardous  mission  of 
passing  through  the  enemy’s  lines  to  arouse  their  countrymen  to  their 
relief.  After  creeping  on  their  hands  and  knees  through  the  enemy’s 
encampment,  and  adopting  various  arts  of  concealment,  they  pursued 
their  way  through  swamps  and  pathless  woods,  until  they  arrived 
safely  at  German  Flats,  and  from  thence  to  the  head-quarters  of 
Gen.  Schuyler,  then  commanding  the  American  army  at  Stillwater 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


231 


Gen.  Arnold  was  immediately  despatched  with  a  body  of  troops  to  the 
relief  of  Col.  Gansevoort.*  As  he  was  advancing  up  the  Mohawk, 
he  captured  a  tory  by  the  name  of  Hon-yost  Schuyler,  who  being  a 
spy,  was  condemned  to  death.  Hon-yost  “  was  one  of  the  coarsest 
and  most  ignorant  men  in  the  valley,  appearing  scarce  half  removed 
from  idiocy ;  and  yet  there  was  no  small  share  of  shrewdness  in  his 
character.”  He  was  promised  his  life  if  he  would  go  to  the  enemy, 
particularly  the  Indians,  and  alarm  them  by  announcing  that  a  large 
army  of  the  Americans  was  in  full  march  to  destroy  them,  &c.  Hon- 
yost  being  acquainted  with  many  of  the  Indians,  gladly  accepted  the 
offer ;  one  of  his  brothers  was  detained  as  a  hostage  for  his  fidelity, 
and  was  to  be  hung  if  he  proved  treacherous.  A  friendly  Oneida 
Indian  was  let  into  the  secret,  and  cheerfully  embarked  in  the  design. 
Upon  Hon-yost’s  arrival,  he  told  a  lamentable  story  of  his  being 
taken  by  Arnold,  and  of  his  escape  from  being  hanged.  He  showed 
them  also  several  shot-holes  in  his  coat,  which  he  said  were  made  by 
bullets  fired  at  him  when  making  his  escape.  Knowing  the  character 
of  the  Indians,  he  communicated  his  intelligence  to  them  in  a  mysteri¬ 
ous  and  imposing  manner.  When  asked  the  number  of  men  which  Ar¬ 
nold  had,  he  shook  his  head  mysteriously  and  pointed  upward  to  the 
leaves  of  the  trees.  These  reports  spread  rapidly  through  the  camps. 
Meantime  the  friendly  Oneida  arrived  with  a  belt  and  confirmed  what 
Hon-yost  had  said,  hinting  that  a  bird  had  brought  him  intelligence 
of  great  moment.  On  his  way  to  the  camp  of  the  besiegers  he  had 
fallen  in  with  two  or  three  Indians  of  his  acquaintance,  who  readily 
engaged  in  furthering  his  design.  These  sagacious  fellows  dropped 
into  the  camp  as  if  by  accident :  they  spoke  of  warriors  in  great  num¬ 
bers  rapidly  advancing  against  them.  The  Americans,  it  was  stated, 
did  not  wish  to  injure  the  Indians,  but  if  they  continued  with  the 

*  A  short  time  previous  to  the  investment  of  the  fortress  the  following  singular  incident 
occurred. — “  Capt.  Greg  went  with  two  of  his  soldiers  into  the  woods  a  short  distance  to 
shoot  pigeons  ;  a  party  of  Indians  started  suddenly  from  concealment  in  the  bushes,  shot 
them  all  down,  tomahawked  and  scalped  them,  and  left  them  for  dead.  The  captain,  after 
some  time  revived,  and  perceiving  his  men  were  killed,  himself  robbed  of  his  scalp,  and 
suffering  extreme  agony  from  his  numerous  wounds,  made  an  effort  to  move  and  lay  his 
bleeding  head  on  one  of  the  dead  bodies,  expecting  soon  to  expire.  A  faithful  dog  who 
accompanied  him  manifested  great  agitation,  and  in  the  tenderest  manner  licked  his 
wounds,  which  afforded  him  great  relief  from  exquisite  distress.  He  then  directed  the  dog, 
as  if  a  human  being,  to  go  in  search  of  some  person  to  come  to  his  relief.  The  animal, 
with  every  appearance  of  anxiety,  ran  about  a  mile,  when  he  met  with  two  men  fishing  in 
the  river,  and  endeavored  in  the  most  moving  manner,  by  whining  and  piteous  cries,  to 
prevail  on  them  to  follow  him  into  the  woods.  Struck  with  the  singular  conduct  of  the  dog, 
they  were  induced  to  follow  him  part  of  the  way,  but  fearing  some  decoy,  or  danger,  they 
were  about  to  return,  when  the  dog,  fixing  his  eyes  on  them,  renewed  his  entreaties  by  his 
cries,  and  taking  hold  of  their  clothes  with  his  teeth,  prevailed  on  them  to  follow  him  to  the 
fatal  spot.  Such  was  the  remarkable  fidelity  and  sagacity  of  this  animal.  Capt.  Greg  was 
immediately  carried  to  the  fort,  where  his  wounds  were  dressed ;  he  was  afterward  re- 
moved  to  our  hospital,  and  put  under  my  care.  He  was  a  most  frightful  spectacle,  the 
whole  of  his  scalp  was  removed  ;  in  two  places  on  the  fore  part  of  his  head,  the  tomahawk 
had  penetrated  through  the  skull ;  there  was  a  wound  on  his  back  with  the  same  instru. 
ment,  besides  a  wound  in  his  side  and  another  through  his  arm  by  a  musket  ball.  This 
unfortunate  man,  after  suffering  extremely  for  a  long  time,  finally  recovered,  and  appeared 
to  be  well  satisfied  in  having  his  scalp  restored  to  him,  though  uncovered  with  hair.”— 
Thacker's  Military  Journal. 


232 


ONEIDA.  COUNTY. 


British  they  must  all  share  one  common  fate.  The  Indians  were 
thoroughly  alarmed,  and  determined  on  an  immediate  flight,  being  al¬ 
ready  disgusted  with  the  British  service.  Col.  St.  Leger  exhorted, 
argued,  and  made  enticing  offers  to  the  Indians  to  remain,  but  all  in 
vain.  He  attempted  to  get  them  drunk,  but  they  refused  to  drink. 
When  he  found  them  determined  to  go,  he  urged  them  to  move  in  the 
rear  of  his  army  ;  but  they  charged  him  with  a  design  to  sacrifice  them 
to  his  safety.  In  a  mixture  of  rage  and  despair,  he  broke  up  his  en¬ 
campment  with  such  haste,  that  he  left  his  tents,  cannon,  and  stores  to 
the  besieged.  The  friendly  Oneida  accompanied  the  flying  army,  and 
being  naturally  a  wag,  he  engaged  his  companions  who  were  in  the  se¬ 
cret,  to  repeat  at  proper  intervals  the  cry,  “  They  are  coming !  they 
are  coming  /”  This  appalling  cry  quickened  the  flight  of  the  fugitives 
wherever  it  was  heard.  The  soldiers  threw  away  their  packs  ;  and 
the  commanders  took  care  not  to  be  in  the  rear.  After  much  fatigue 
and  mortification,  they  finally  reached  Oneida  Lake  ;  and  there  proba¬ 
bly,  for  the  first  time,  felt  secure  from  the  pursuit  of  their  enemies. 
From  this  place  St.  Leger  hastened  with  his  scattered  forces  back  to 
Oswego,  and  thence  to  Montreal.  « 

Hon-yost,  after  accompanying  the  flying  army  as  far  as  the  estuary 
of  Wood  creek,  left  them  and  returned  to  Fort  Schuyler,  and  gave 
the  first  information  to  Colonel  Gansevoort  of  the  approach  of  Arnold. 
From  thence  he  proceeded  to  German  Flats,  and  on  presenting  him¬ 
self  at  Fort  Dayton  his  brother  was  discharged.  He  soon  after  rejoin¬ 
ed  the  British  standard,  attaching  himself  to  the  forces  under  Sir  John 
Johnson. 

Whitestown  was  organized  in  1788.  It  lies  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mohawk,  having  an  undulating  surface  with  broad  and  fertile  val¬ 
leys.  It  is  drained  by  the  Oriskany  and  Sauquoit  creeks,  on  which 
are  numerous  mills  of  various  kinds.  Oriskany,  Whitesborough,  and 
Yorkmills  are  post  villages.  Whitesborough,  the  principal  village,  is 
near  the  confluence  of  Sadaquada  or  Sauquoit  creek  with  the  Mohawk, 
contains  about  100  dwelling-houses,  2  churches,  an  academy,  and  the 
Oneida  Institute.  Distant  100  miles  from  Albany  ;  4  from  Utica,  and 
11  from  Rome.  Oriskany  village,  7  miles  from  Utica,  on  the  line  of 
the  canal  and  railroad,  is  a  large  manufacturing  village  containing 
about  200  dwellings.  Oriskany  Falls  village,  20  miles  from  Utica,  on 
the  line  of  the  Chenango  canal,  contains  about  80  dwellings. 

The  following  is  a  SW.  view  of  the  Oneida  Institute,  as  seen  from 
the  Erie  canal,  which  passes  a  short  distance  from  these  buildings. 
The  “Oneida Institute  of  Science  and  Industry,”  was  founded  in  1827 ; 
incorporated  in  1829.  “The  design  of  this  Seminary  is  to  furnish 
means  to  obviate  the  evils  resulting  to  students  from  the  usual  appli¬ 
cation  to  a  course  of  professional  study,  and  the  attendant  depriva¬ 
tion  of  bodily  exercise.  The  plan  that  the  Seminary  has  established 
to  effect  this,  is  to  blend  productive  manual  labor  with  the  course  of 
study.  Three  hours  labor  per  day  is  required  of  each  student  in  the 
young  men’s  department,  and  somewhat  less  of  each  in  the  juvenile 
department.  The  farm  consists  of  the  flat  on  the  left  bank  of  the 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


233 


Southwest  view  of  Oneida  Institute ,  Whitestown. 


Sauquoit,  and  contains  114  acres.  The  chief  building  upon  it  when 
purchased,  was  a  large  two  story  wood  house  to  which  a  wing  has 
been  appended,  and  which  is  now  occupied  by  the  juvenile  depart' 
ment.  The  other  principal  buildings,  which  are  all  of  wood,  with 
stone  basements,  are  as  follows :  two  of  82  by  32  feet,  and  one  48 
by  48  feet,  all  of  three  stories,  including  the  basements.  The  latter 
includes  the  chapel,  with  seats  for  250  persons.  The  library  con¬ 
tains  upwards  of  1,000  volumes;  and  in  the  reading-room  are  files 
of  newspapers  from  various  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  ex¬ 
pense  for  instruction,  room  rent,  fuel,  and  contingences  per  year,  828. 
Board  at  $1,05  per  week,  $54,60  per  year.  Total  $82,60. 

Immediately  after  the  revolutionary  war,  Hugh  White,  a  native  of 
Middletown,  Conn.,  Zephaniah  Platt,  Ezra  L’Hommedieu,  and  Me- 
lancthon  Smith,  became  joint  proprietors  of  Sadaquada  P,atent.  It 
was  agreed  among  the  proprietors,  that  they  should  meet  on  the  land 
in  the  summer  of  1784,  and  make  a  survey  and  partition  of  it.  Judge 
White,  having  determined  to  make  this  place  his  home,  he  accord¬ 
ingly,  in  the  month  of  May  in  that  year,  left  his  native  place,  accom¬ 
panied  by  his  four  sons,  all  of  whom  had  arrived  at  manhood,  a 
daughter,  and  daughter-in-law.  The  party  sailed  to  Albany,  there 
crossed  the  carrying  place  to  Schenectady,  and  procuring  a  batteau, 
ascended  the  Mohawk,  and  arrived  in  June  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sau¬ 
quoit  creek.  They  there  erected  a  shanty  for  their  temporary  accom¬ 
modation,  while  surveying  and  dividing  the  lands.  Upon  obtaining  the 
partition  Judge  White  proceeded  to  the  erection  of  a  log  house:  the 
site  fixed  upon  was  upon  the  bank  which  forms  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  village  green  in  Whitesborough,  just  on  the  right  of  the  Indian 
path  which  led  from  old  Fort  Schuyler  to  Fort  Stanwix.  He  re¬ 
mained  at  this  house  with  his  sons  until  winter,  cutting  away  the 
forest  and  making  preparations  for  the  ensuing  season.  In  January, 
he  returned  to  Connecticut,  and  brought  his  wife  and  the  remainder 
of  his  family.  Four  years  after  this,  he  erected  the  house  still  standing 
on  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  village  green  of  which  the  annexed 
is  a  representation.  He  continued  to  occupy  it  until  a  year  or  two 


234 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


House  of  Judge  White,  Whitestown. 


previous  to  his  death,  when  he  removed  to  the  dwelling  owned  by 
him  upon  the  hill,  where  he  died  April  16th,  1812.  At  the  organiza¬ 
tion  of  Herkimer  county,  he  was  appointed  a  judge,  and  afterward 
performed  the  duties  of  the  same  office  in  Oneida  county. 

For  the  first  two  years  of  Judge  White’s  residence  at  Whitesbo- 
rough,the  nearest  mill  was  situated  at  Palatine,  a  distance  of  about  forty 
miles.  This  distance  was  traversed  by  an  Indian  path  impassable  to 
a  wheel-carriage.  The  want  of  animal  food  induced  the  first  settlers 
to  salt  down  a  barrel  or  two  of  the  breasts  of  pigeons,  which  they  sepa¬ 
rated  from  the  remainder  of  these  birds,  which  were  here  caught  in  great 
numbers.  In  the  year  1786,  the  settlement  of  Whitestown  had  so  far  in¬ 
creased,  that  its  inhabitants  formed  a  religious  society,  and  employed 
as  a  minister  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hillver,  of  Orange,  New  Jersey,  and  or¬ 
ganized  the  first  Presbyterian  church  formed  in  the  state  west  of  Al¬ 
bany.  In  1788,  when  Whitestown  was  organized,  its  limits  were 
laid  off  by  a  line  crossing  the  Mohawk  at  a  small  log  cabin  which 
stood  upon  the  site  occupied  by  the  railroad  depot  in  Utica,  and  run¬ 
ning  north  and  south  to  the  boundaries  of  the  state,  and  comprehend¬ 
ing  all  the  state  lying  westward — a  territory  which  at  present  is 
inhabited  by  more  than  a  million  of  inhabitants.  The  first  town 
meeting  was  held  in  a  barn  owned  by  Needham  Maynard,  Esq.,  on 
the  road  leading  from  Whitesborough  to  Middle  Settlement. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  Judge  White’s  arrival  quite  a  number 
of  the  Oneida  Indians  resided  in  his  vicinity.  The  following  interest¬ 
ing  incident,  which  took  place  during  this  period,  is  copied  from 
Tracy’s  Lectures. 

“  An  old  chief,  named  Han  Yerry,  who,  during  the  war,  had  acted  with  the  royal  party, 
and  now  resided  at  Oriskany  in  a  log  wigwam  which  stood  on  this  side  of  the  creek,  just 
back  of  the  house,  until  recently,  occupied  by  Mr.  Charles  Green,  one  day  called  at  Judge 
White’s  with  his  wife  and  a  mulatto  woman  who  belonged  to  him,  and  who  acted  as  his 
interpreter.  After  conversing  with  him  a  little  while,  the  Indian  asked  him — Are  you  my 
friend?  Yes,  said  he.  Well,  then,  said  the  Indian,  do  you  believe  I  am  your  friend? 
Yes,  Han  Yerry,  replied  he  ;  I  believe  you  are.  The  Indian  then  rejoined — Well,  if  you 
are  my  friend,  and  you  believe  I  am  your  friend,  I  will  tell  you  what  I  want,  and  then  I 
shall  know  whether  you  speak  true  words.  And  what  is  it  that  you  want  ?  said  Mr.  White. 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


235 


The  Indian  then  pointed  to  a  little  grandchild,  the  daughter  of  one  of  his  sons,  then  be¬ 
tween  two  and  three  years  old,  and  said, — My  squaw  wants  to  take  this  pappoose  home 
with  us  to  stay  one  night,  and  bring  her  home  to-morrow :  if  you  are  my  friend,  you  will 
now  show  me.  The  feelings  of  the  grandfather  at  once  uprose  in  his  bosom,  and  the 
child’s  mother  started  with  horror  and  alarm  at  the  thought  of  intrusting  her  darling  prat¬ 
tler  with  the  rude  tenants  of  the  forest.  The  question  was  full  of  interest.  On  the  one 
hand,  the  necessity  of  placing  unlimited  confidence  in  the  savage,  and  intrusting  the  wel¬ 
fare  and  the  life  of  his  grandchild  with  him ;  on  the  other,  the  certain  enmity  of  a  man  of 
influence  and  consequence  in  his  nation,  and  one  who  had  been  the  open  enemy  of  his 
countrymen  in  their  recent  struggle.  But  he  made  the  decision  with  a  sagacity  that 
showed  that  he  properly  estimated  the  character  of  the  person  he  was  dealing  with.  He 
believed  that  by  placing  implicit  confidence  in  him,  he  should  command  the  sense  of  honor 
which  seems  peculiar  to  the  uncontaminated  Indian.  He  told  him  to  take  the  child ;  and 
as  the  mother,  scarcely  suffering  it  to  be  parted  from  her,  relinquished  it  into  the  hands  of 
the  old  man’s  wife,  he  soothed  her  fears  with  his  assurances  of  confidence  in  their  promises. 
That  night,  however,  was  a  long  one  ;  and  during  the  whole  of  the  next  morning  many  and 
often  were  the  anxious  glances  cast  up  the  pathway  leading  from  Oriskany,  if  possible  to 
discover  the  Indians  and  their  little  charge,  upon  their  return  to  its  home.  But  no  Indians 
came  in  sight.  It  at  length  became  high  noon :  all  a  mother’s  fears  were  aroused :  she 
could  scarcely  be  restrained  from  rushing  in  pursuit  of  her  loved  one.  But  her  father  re¬ 
presented  to  her  the  gross  indignity  which  a  suspicion  of  their  intentions  would  arouse  in 
the  breast  of  the  chief;  and  half  frantic  though  she  was,  she  was  restrained.  The  after¬ 
noon  slowly  wore  away,  and  still  nothing  was  seen  of  her  child.  The  sun  had  nearly 
reached  the  horizon,  and  the  mother’s  heart  had  swollen  beyond  further  endurance,  when 
the  forms  of  the  friendly  chief  and  his  wife,  bearing  upon  her  shoulders  their  little  visiter, 
greeted  its  mother’s  vision.  The  dress  which  the  child  had  worn  from  home  had  been  re¬ 
moved,  and  in  its  place  its  Indian  friends  had  substituted  a  complete  suit  of  Indian  gar¬ 
ments,  so  as  completely  to  metamorphose  it  into  a  little  squaw.  The  sequel  of  this  adven¬ 
ture  was  the  establishment  of  a  most  ardent  attachment  and  regard  on  the  part  of  the  In¬ 
dian  and  his  friends  for  the  white  settlers.  The  child,  now  Mrs.  Eells  of  Missouri,  the 
widow  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Eells  of  Whitesboro,  still  remembers  some  incidents  occurring 
on  the  night  of  her  stay  in  the  wigwam,  and  the  kindness  of  her  Indian  hostess.” 

Oriskany  village  is  about  3  miles  NE.  from  Whitesborough,  at  the 
confluence  of  Oriskany  creek  with  the  Mohawk:  it  has  about  HO 
dwellings,  a  number  of  mills,  and  2  woollen  factories,  viz.  the  Oris¬ 
kany,  first  incorporated  in  1804,  and  the  Dexter.  The  Erie  canal 
and  the  railroad  between  Utica  and  Syracuse  pass  through  this  vil¬ 
lage.  The  battle  of  Oriskany,  in  which  Gen.  Herkimer  received  a 
mortal  wound,  was  fought  about  two  miles  in  a  western  direction 
from  the  village. 

On  the  advance  of  the  British  forces  under  Lieut.  Col.  St.  Leger 
to  the  siege  of  Fort  Schuyler,  (Stanwix,)  at  Rome,  General  Herkimer 
summoned  the  militia  of  Tryon  county  to  the  field  to  march  to  the 
succor  of  the  garrison.  On  the  5th  of  Aug.,  1777,  he  arrived  near 
Oriskany  with  a  body  of  upwards  of  800  men,  all  eager  to  meet  the 
enemy.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  August,  Gen.  Herkimer  de¬ 
termined  to  halt  till  he  had  received  reinforcements,  or  at  least  until 
the  signal  of  a  sortie  should  be  received  from  the  fort.  His  officers, 
however,  were  eager  to  press  forward  ;  high  words  ensued :  during 
which  his  two  colonels  and  other  officers  denounced  their  commander 
to  his  face  as  a  tory  and  a  coward.  “  The  brave  old  man  calmly 
replied  that  he  considered  himself  placed  over  them  as  a  father,  and 
that  it  was  not  his  wish  to  lead  them  into  any  difficulty  from  which 
he  could  not  extricate  them.  Burning  as  they  now  seemed  to  meet 
the  enemy,  he  told  them  roundly  that  they  would  run  at  his  first  ap¬ 
pearance.  But  his  remonstrances  were  unavailing.  Their  clamor 


236 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


increased,  and  their  reproaches  were  repeated,  until,  stung  by  impu¬ 
tations  of  cowardice  and  a  want  of  fidelity  to  the  cause,  and  some¬ 
what  irritated  withal,  the  general  immediately  gave  the  order — 
‘  march  on  !’  The  words  were  no  sooner  heard  than  the  troops  gave 
a  shout,  and  moved,  or  rather  rushed  forward.”  Col.  St.  Leger 
having  heard  of  the  advance  of  Gen.  Herkimer,  determined  to  attack 
him  in  an  ambuscade.  The  spot  chosen  favored  the  design.  There 
was  a  deep  ravine  crossing  the  path  which  Herkimer  was  traversing, 
“  sweeping  towards  the  east  in  a  semi-circular  form,  and  bearing  a 
northern  and  southern  direction.  The  bottom  of  this  ravine  was 
marshy,  and  the  road  crossed  it  by  means  of  a  causeway.  The 
ground,  thus  partly  enclosed  by  the  ravine,  was  elevated  and  level. 
The  ambuscade  was  laid  upon  the  high  ground  west  of  the  ravine.” 

The  British  troops,  with  a  large  body  of  Indians  under  Brant,  disposed 
themselves  in  a  circle,  leaving  only  a  narrow  segment  open  for  the 
admission  of  Herkimer’s  troops.  Unconscious  of  the  presence  of  the 
enemy,  Gen.  Herkimer  with  his  whole  force,  with  the  exception  of 
the  rear-guard,  found  themselves  encompassed  at  the  onset — the 
foe  closing  up  the  gap  on  their  first  fire.  Those  on  the  outside  fled 
as  their  commander  had  predicted ;  those  within  the  circle  were 
thrown  into  disorder  by  the  sudden  and  murderous  fire  now  poured 
in  upon  them  on  all  sides.  Gen.  Herkimer  fell  wounded  in  the  early 
part  of  the  action,  and  was  placed  on  his  saddle  against  the  trunk  of 
a  tree  for  his  support,  and  thus  continued  to  order  the  battle.  The 
action  having  lasted  more  than  half  an  hour,  in  great  disorder,  Her¬ 
kimer’s  men  formed  themselves  into  circles  to  repel  the  attacks  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  now  closing  in  upon  them  from  all  sides.  From 
this  moment  their  resistance  was  more  effective.  The  firing  in  a 
great  measure  ceased  ;  and  the  conflict  was  carried  on  with  knives, 
bayonets,  and  the  butt-ends  of  muskets.  A  heavy  shower  of  rain 
now  arrested  the  work  of  death  ;  the  storm  raged  for  an  hour,  and 
the  enemy  retired  among  the  trees,  at  a  respectful  distance,  having 
suffered  severely,  notwithstanding  the  advantages  in  their  favor. 
During  this  suspension  of  the  conflict,  Gen.  Herkimer’s  men,  by  his 
direction,  formed  themselves  into  a  circle  and  awaited  the  movements 
of  the  enemy.  In  the  early  part  of  the  battle,  whenever  a  gun  was 
fired  by  a  militiaman  from  behind  a  tree,  an  Indian  rushed  up  and 
tomahawked  him  before  he  could  reload.  To  counteract  this,  two 
men  were  stationed  behind  a  single  tree,  one  only  to  fire  at  a  time — 
the  other  to  reserve  his  fire  till  the  Indian  ran  up  as  before  The  fight 
was  soon  renewed,  but  by  this  new  arrangement  the  Indians  suffered 
so  severely  that  they  began  to  give  way.  A  reinforcement  of  the 
enemy  now  came  up,  called  Johnson’s  Greens.  These  men  were 
mostly  royalist,  who  having  fled  from  Tryon  county,  now  returned 
in  arms  against  their  former  neighbors.  Many  of  the  militia  and  the 
Greens  knew  each  other,  and  as  soon  as  they  advanced  near  enough 
for  recognition,  mutual  feelings  of  hate  and  revenge  raged  in  their 
bosoms.  The  militia  fired  upon  them  as  they  advanced,  and  then 
springing  like  tigers  from  their  covers,  attacked  them  with  their  bay- 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


237 


onets  and  butts  of  their  muskets ;  or  both  parties  in  closer  contact 
throttled  each  other  and  drew  their  knives — stabbing,  and  sometimes 
literally  dying  in  each  other’s  embrace.” 

This  murderous  conflict  did  not  continue  long :  the  Indians  seeing 
with  what  resolution  the  militia  continued  the  fight,  and  finding  their 
own  numbers  greatly  diminished,  now  raised  the  retreating  cry  of 
“  Oonah  /”  and  fled  in  every  direction  under  the  shouts  of  the  surviv¬ 
ing  militia,  and  a  shower  of  bullets.  A  firing  was  heard  in  the  dis¬ 
tance  from  the  fort :  the  Greens  and  Rangers  now  deemed  that  their 
presence  was  necessary  elsewhere,  and  retreated  precipitately,  leav¬ 
ing  the  victorious  militia  of  Tryon  county  masters  of  the  field. — 
“  Thus  ended,”  (says  Col.  Stone  in  his  Life  of  Brant,)  “  one  of  the 
severest,  and,  for  the  numbers  engaged,  one  of  the  most  bloody  bat¬ 
tles  of  the  revolutionary  war.”  The  loss  of  the  militia,  according  to 
the  American  account,  was  two  hundred  killed,  exclusive  of  wounded 
and  prisoners.  The  British  claimed  that  four  hundred  of  the  Ameri¬ 
cans  were  killed  and  two  hundred  taken  prisoners.  “  The  loss  of 
the  enemy  was  equally  if  not  more  severe,  than  that  of  the  Ameri¬ 
cans.”  Gen.  Herkimer,  though  wounded  in  the  onset,  bore  himself 
during  the  six  hours  of  conflict,  under  the  most  trying  circumstances, 
with  a  degree  of  fortitude  and  composure  worthy  of  admiration. 
“  At  one  time  during  the  battle,  while  sitting  upon  his  saddle,  raised 
upon  a  little  hillock,  being  advised  to  select  a  less  exposed  situation, 
he  replied — ‘  I  will  face  the  enemy.’  Thus  surrounded  by  a  few  men, 
he  continued  to  issue  his  orders  with  firmness.  In  this  situation,  and 
in  the  heat  of  the  onslaught,  he  deliberately  took  his  tinder  box  from 
his  pocket,  lit  his  pipe,  and  smoked  with  great  composure.”  After 
the  battle  was  over,  he  was  removed  from  the  field  on  a  litter,  and 
was  conveyed  to  his  house,  below  the  Little  Falls  on  the  Mohawk. 

The  following  inscriptions  are  copied  from  monuments  in  the 
Whitesborough  grave-yard. 

“  Here  sleep  the  mortal  remains  of  Hugh  White,  who  was  born  5th  February,  1733,  at 
Middletown,  Connecticut,  and  died  16th  April,  1812.  In  the  year  1784,  he  removed  to 
Sedaghquate,  now  Whitesborough :  where  he  was  the  first  white  inhabitant  in  the  state  of 
New  York  west  of  the  German  settlers  on  the  Mohawk.  He  was  distinguished  for  energy 
and  decision  of  character ;  and  may  justly  be  regarded  as  a  Patriarch  who  led  the  children 
of  New  England  into  the  wilderness.  As  a  magistrate,  a  citizen,  and  a  man,  his  character 
for  truth  and  integrity  was  proverbial.  This  humble  monument  is  reared  and  inscribed  by 
the  affectionate  partner  of  his  joys  and  his  sorrows,  May  15,  1826.” 


“  To  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Bethuel  Dodd,  first  pastor  of  the  United  Presbyterian  So¬ 
ciety  of  Whitestown  and  Utica.  Born  1767,  died  1804 ;  and  of  Sarah  his  wife,  born  1768, 
died  1828.  In  the  year  1794,  they  emigrated  from  Orange,  New  Jersey,  to  this  village. 
Mr.  Dodd  assisted  in  forming  the  first  Presbyterian  church  west  of  Albany,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  a  short  but  useful  career  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  branch  of  his  Master’s 
kingdom.” 


238 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


Distant  view  of  Hamilton  College,  Kirkland. 


Clinton,  the  principal  settlement  in  the  town  of  Kirkland,  is  9  miles 
from  Utica,  on  the  Chenango  canal.  The  village  consists  of  about  50 
dwellings,  1  Congregational,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Universalist  church,  2 
academies,  and  2  seminaries  for  females.  The  annexed  engraving 
shows  the  appearance  of  the  Hamilton  college  buildings  as  seen  from 
the  canal  in  Clinton  village,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  distant,  beauti¬ 
fully  situated  on  a  commanding  eminence  westward  of  the  Oriskany 
valley,  overlooking  the  village,  having  a  delightful  distant  prospect 
The  college  buildings  consist  of  three  stone  buildings  four  stories  high 
for  study,  lodging-rooms,  a  chapel,  President’s  dwelling-house,  board 
ing  and  servants’  house,  and  41  acres  of  land.  This  institution  was  es 
tablished  in  1812.  The  original  cost  of  the  college  grounds  and  build¬ 
ings  was  about  $80,000.  “  The  college  in  1834  raised  by  subscription 

the  sum  of  $50,000  ;  forming  a  fund  for  the  payment  of  the  salaries 
of  the  officers.  Wm.  H.  Maynard,  who  died  in  Sept.  1832,  bequeath¬ 
ed  to  it  $20,000,  to  endow  a  professorship  of  law  ;  and  S.  N.  Dexter, 
Esq.,  of  Whitestown,  in  1836,  gave  $15,000  for  endowing  a  professor¬ 
ship.” 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  from  whom  this  town  derives  its  name,  was  the  son  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  of  Norwich,  Connecticut.  This  devoted  missionary  was  for  a  time  a 
member  of  Mr.  Wheelock’s  school,  and  afterward  finished  his  education  at  the  college  in 
New  Jersey,  where  he  graduated  in  1765.  The  next  year,  (1766,)  he  commenced  his 
mission  among  the  Oneidas,  laboring  and  living  with  them  and  endearing  himself  to  them 
by  his  attention  and  efforts  to  do  them  good.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolutionary 
war,  the  Six  Nations,  with  the  exception  of  the  Oneidas,  who  were  mostly  under  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  Mr.  Kirkland,  joined  the  British  cause.  The  intestine  war  which  now  took 
place  forced  Mr.  Kirkland  to  remove  his  family  from  this  region,  but  he  himself  continued 
his  labors  among  the  Oneidas  as  opportunities  offered,  and  by  his  influence  a  firm  friend¬ 
ship  was  maintained  between  them  and  the  Americans.  During  a  portion  of  the  war  ho 
officiated  as  chaplain  to  the  American  forces  in  the  vicinity  ;  he  also  accompanied  the  ex¬ 
pedition  of  Gen.  Sullivan,  in  1779,  through  the  western  part  of  the  state. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  the  state  of  New  York,  in  con¬ 
sideration  of  his  valuable  services  during  the  revolution,  granted  to 
him  the  lands  lying  in  the  town  of  Kirkland,  known  as  Kirkland’s 
patent,  upon  a  portion  of  which,  Hamilton  College  stands.  To  these 
lands  he  removed  his  family  in  1792,  and  fixed  his  residence  near  the 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


239 


village  of  Clinton,  where  he  continued  till  his  death,  March  28th, 
1808,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  The  labors  of  Mr.  Kirk¬ 
land  among  the  Oneidas,  were  in  many  instances  attended  with  hap¬ 
py  consequences  ;  a  large  portion  of  the  nation  ultimately  professed 
to  believe  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  many  of  them  appeared  de¬ 
voted  Christians,  among  whom  was  the  venerable  chief  Skenandoa. 
About  the  year  1791,  Mr.  Kirkland  conceived  the  project  of  estab¬ 
lishing  a  seminary  which  should  be  accessible  to  the  Indian  youth 
as  well  as  the  whites.  Through  his  exertions  a  charter  of  incorpo¬ 
ration  was  obtained  for  the  institution  in  1793,  under  the  name  of 
“  Hamilton  Oneida  Academy.”  In  1794  a  building  was  erected, 
which  for  many  years  afterward  continued  to  be  known  as  Oneida 
Hall ,  till  the  seminary  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  college,  with  the 
style  of  Hamilton  college.  Mr.  Kirkland  was  a  generous  benefactor 
of  this  institution,  and  expended  much  of  his  time  and  means  in  pro¬ 
moting  its  interests. 

The  following  account  of  the  death  of  Skenandoa,  the  Oneida 
chief,  and  the  “white  man’s  friend,”  was  published  in  the  Utica  Pa¬ 
triot,  March  19th,  1816.  In  a  few  particulars  it  is  abridged. 

“  Died  at  his  residence,  near  Oneida  Castle,  on  Monday,  11th  inst.,  Skenandoa,  the  cel¬ 
ebrated  Oneida  chief,  aged  110  years  :  well  known  in  the  wars  which  occurred  while  we 
were  British  colonies,  and  in  the  contest  which  issued  in  our  independence,  as  the  undevi¬ 
ating  friend  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  He  was  very  savage  and  addicted  to 
drunkenness*  in  his  youth,  but  by  his  own  reflections  and  the  benevolent  instruction  of  the 
late  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  missionary  to  his  tribe,  he  lived  a  reformed  man  for  more  than 
sixty  years,  and  died  in  Christian  hope.  From  attachment  to  Mr.  Kirkland  he  had  always 
expressed  a  strong  desire  to  be  buried  near  his  minister  and  father,  that  he  might  (to  use 
his  own  expression,)  *  Go  up  with  him  at  the  great  resurrection .’  At  the  approach  of  death, 
after  listening  to  the  prayers  which  were  read  at  his  bed-side  by  his  great-granddaughter, 
he  again  repeated  the  request.  Accordingly,  the  family  of  Mr.  Kirkland  having  received 
information  by  a  runner  that  Skenandoa  was  dead,  in  compliance  with  a  previous  promise, 
sent  assistance  to  the  Indians  that  the  corpse  might  be  carried  to  the  village  of  Clinton  for 
burial.  Divine  service  was  attended  at  the  meeting-house  in  Cliitton  on  Wednesday  at  2 
o’clock,  P.  M.  An  address  was  made  to  the  Indians  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Backus,  President  of 
Hamilton  college,  which  was  interpreted  by  Judge  Deane,  of  Westmoreland.  Prayer  was 
then  offered  and  appropriate  psalms  sung.  After  service,  the  concourse  which  had  assem¬ 
bled  from  respect  to  the  deceased  chief,  or  from  the  singularity  of  the  occasion,  moved  to 
the  grave  in  the  following  order : — 

Students  of  Hamilton  College, 

CORPSE, 

Indians, 

Mrs.  Kirkland  and  family, 

Judge  Deane, — Rev.  Dr.  Norton — Rev.  Mr.  Ayre, 

Officers  of  Hamilton  College, 

Citizens. 

“After  interment,  the  only  surviving  son  of  the  deceased,  self-moved,  returned  thanks, 
through  Judge  Deane  as  interpreter,  to  the  people  for  the  respect  shown  to  his  father  on 
the  occasion,  and  to  Mrs.  Kirkland  and  family  for  their  kind  and  friendly  attention. 

“  Skenandoa’s  person  was  tall,  well  made,  and  robust.  His  countenance  was  intelligent, 

*  In  the  year  1755  Skenandoa  was  present  at  a  treaty  made  in  Albany.  At  night  he 
was  excessively  drunk,  and  in  the  morning  found  himself  in  the  street,  stripped  of  all  his 
ornaments  and  every  article  of  clothing.  His  pride  revolted  at  his  self-degradation,  and  he 
resolved  that  he  would  never  again  deliver  himself  over  to  the  power  of  strong  water. 


240 


ONEIDA  COUNTV. 


and  displayed  all  the  peculiar  dignity  of  an  Indian  chief.  In  his  youth  he  was  a  brave  and 
intrepid  warrior,  and  in  his  riper  years  one  of  the  noblest  counsellors  among  the  North 
American  tribes ;  he  possessed  a  vigorous  mind,  and  was  alike  sagacious,  active,  and  perse, 
vering.  As  an  enemy,  he  was  terrible.  As  a  friend  and  ally,  he  was  mild  and  gentle  in 
his  disposition,  and  faithful  to  his  engagements.  His  vigilance  once  preserved  from  massa¬ 
cre  the  inhabitants  of  the  little  settlement  at  German  Flats.  In  the  revolutionary  war  his 
influence  induced  the  Oneidas  to  takp  up  arms  in  favor  of  the  Americans.  Among  the  In¬ 
dians  he  was  distinguished  by  the  appellation  of  the  *  white  man’s  friend.’ 

“  Although  he  could  speak  but  little  English,  and  in  his  extreme  old  age  was  blind,  yet 
his  company  was  sought.  In  conversation  he  was  highly  decorous ;  evincing  that  he  had 
profited  by  seeing  civilized  and  polished  society,  and  by  mingling  with  good  company  in 
his  better  days. 

“  To  a  friend  who  called  on  him  a  short  time  since,  he  thus  expressed  himself  by  an  in- 
terpreter :  ‘  I  am  an  aged  hemlock.  The  winds  of  an  hundred  winters  have  whistled 
through  my  branches ;  I  am  dead  at  the  top.  The  generation  to  which  I  belonged  have 
run  away  and  left  me  :  why  I  live,  the  Great  Good  Spirit  only  knows.  Pray  to  my  Jesus 
that  I  may  have  patience  to  wait  for  my  appointed  time  to  die.’ 

“  Honored  Chief !  His  prayer  was  answered ;  he  was  cheerful  and  resigned  to  the  last. 
For  several  years  he  kept  his  dress  for  the  grave  prepared.  Once  and  again,  and  again,  he 
came  to  Clinton  to  die  :  longing  that  his  soul  might  be  with  Christ,  and  his  body  in  the 
narrow  house  near  his  beloved  Christian  teacher.  While  the  ambitious  but  vulgar  great, 
look  principally  to  sculptured  monuments  and  to  riches  in  the  temple  of  earthly  fame ; 
Skenandoa,  in  the  spirit  of  the  only  real  nobility,  stood  with  his  loins  girded,  waiting  the 
coming  of  the  Lord.” 

The  following  inscriptions  are  copied  from  monuments  in  the 
Hamilton  College  grave-yard  : — 

“  Skenandoa.  This  monument  is  erected  by  the  Northern  Missionary  Society,  in 
testimony  of  their  respect  for  the  memory  of  Skenandoa,  who  died  in  the  peace  and  hope 
of  the  gospel,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1816.  Wise,  eloquent,  and  brave,  he  long  swayed 
the  councils  of  his  tribe,  whose  confidence  and  affection  he  eminently  enjoyed.  In  the 
war  which  placed  the  Canadas  under  the  crown  of  Great  Britain  he  was  actively  engaged 
against  the  French :  in  that  of  the  revolution,  he  espoused  that  of  the  colonies,  and  ever 
afterward  remained  a  firm  friend  to  the  United  States.  Under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kirkland  he  embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  having  exhibited  their  power  in 
a  long  life  adorned  by  every  Christian  virtue,  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  at  the  advanced  age  of 
one  hundred  years.” 


“  H.  S.  E.  Azel  Backus,  STD.,  vir  pietate  insignis  omni  doctrina  excultus,  Evangelii 
minister  fervidus  et  praeclarus  Collegii  Hamiltonensis  fuit  Praeses  semper  dilligentissimus 
et  alumnis  carissimus.  In  eo,  summa  in  homines  benevolentia,  misericordia  incorrupta 
fides,  nudaque  veritas :  conjux  superstes  dolet.  Et  omnes  quibus  vivens  ille  fuit  natus. 
Lugent  et  plorant. — Memoriae  Praesidis  dilectissimi  et  venerandi,  curatores  Collegii  Hamil¬ 
tonensis  :  Hoc  monumentum  prosuerunt. — Ecclesiae  apud  Bethlem,  Conn.,  Pastor  Annos 
xxii,  Coll.  Ham.  Praeses  iv. — De  vita  decessit  Die  Dec.  duodetricesimo,  Anno  Domini, 
MDCCCXVI.  jEt.  LII.” 

[Here  lies  buried,  Azel  Backus,  DD.,  a  man  of  remarkable  piety  and  learning,  a  zealous 
minister  of  the  gospel,  a  distinguished  President  of  Hamilton  College  ;  a  man  of  extraor¬ 
dinary  diligence,  and  greatly  endeared  to  the  members  of  the  institution.  In  him  were 
conspicuous  the  highest  benevolence  towards  his  fellow  men,  uncorruptible  integrity,  and 
uncompromising  truth.  His  wife  survives  to  lament  his  loss  :  and  all  who  knew  him  mourn 
also.  The  corporation  of  Hamilton  College  have  erected  this  monument  to  the  memory  of 
their  beloved  and  venerated  President.  He  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Bethlem,  Conn., 
22  years,  President  of  Hamilton  College,  4.  He  departed  this  life  December  28th,  AD. 
1816,  aged  52  years.] 


“  H.  S.  Quod  potuit  mori  Sethi  Norton,  A.M.,  Linguarum  Professoris  in  Collegio  Ham- 
iltonensi;  Sui  brevem  vitae  cursum  Literis  deditus  cum  magno  studio  Praeceptoris  Peritissi- 
mus  et  carissimus  cucurrit.  Et  in  mediis  laboribus  maximo  sui  desiderio  subitae  morti  suc- 
cubuit  Dec.  7th,  1818,  iEtatis  Anno  40.  Linguarum  fuit  Professor  Annos  6.  Curatores 
Collegii  Hamiltonensis  Hoc  monumentum  ponendum  curaverunt.” 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


241 


The  principal  part  of  the  town  of  Steuben,  20  miles  N.  of  Utica, 
was  granted  by  the  state  to  Baron  Steuben,  for  his  services  during 
the  revolutionary  war.  He  resided  here  on  his  farm  until  his  death. 
He  was  buried  beneath  an  evergreen  he  had  selected  to  overshadow 
his  grave.  Afterward  a  new  road  was  laid  over  the  spot,  and  his  re¬ 
mains  were  removed  to  a  neighboring  grove  in  this  town,  situated 
about  7  miles  NW.  of  the  Trenton  Falls. 


Grave  of  Baron  Steuben. 


His  grave  is  protected  by  a  neat  monument  erected  in  1826  by  pri¬ 
vate  subscription,  and  shown  in  the  above  engraving.  On  it  is  the 
brief  inscription,  Major  General  Frederick  William  Augustus 
Baron  de  Steuben.  Baron  Steuben  resided  in  a  log  house  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  his  burial  place.  He  lived  there  during  the 
summers  and  cultivated  his  farm,  but  in  the  winters  resided  in  New 
York.  The  following  sketch  is  from  Allen’s  Biographical  Dictionary  : 

“  Frederick  William  Baron  de  Steuben,  a  major-general  in  the  American  army, 
was  a  Prussian  officer,  who  served  many  years  in  the  armies  of  Frederick  the  Great,  was 
one  of  his  aids,  and  had  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general.  He  arrived  in  New  Hamp¬ 
shire  from  Marseilles  in  November,  1777,  with  strong  recommendations  to  congress,  hie 
claimed  no  rank,  and  only  requested  permission  to  render  as  a  volunteer  what  services  he 
could  to  the  American  army.  He  was  soon  appointed  to  the  office  of  inspector-general, 
with  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  established  a  uniform  system  of  manreuvres,  and  by 
his  skill  and  persevering  industry  effected,  during  the  continuance  of  the  troops  at  Valley 
Forge,  a  most  important  improvement  in  all  ranks  of  the  army.  He  was  a  volunteer  in 
the  action  at  Monmouth,  and  commanded  in  the  trenches  of  Yorktown  on  the  day  which 
concluded  the  struggle  with  Great  Britain.  He  died  at  Steuben,  New  York,  November 
28,  1795.  He  was  an  accomplished  gentleman  and  a  virtuous  citizen,  of  extensive  know¬ 
ledge  and  sound  judgment.  An  abstract  of  his  system  of  discipline  was  published  in  1779, 
and  in  1784  he  published  a  letter  on  the  subject  of  an  established  militia  and  military  ar¬ 
rangements.” 

The  annexed  inscription  to  the  memory  of  Baron  Steuben,  aaia  nn 
an  elegant  tablet  on  the  wall  of  the  German  Lutheran  church  in  the 
city  of  New  York. 

“  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Frederick  William  Augustus  Baron  Steuben,  a  Ger¬ 
man  ;  knight  of  the  order  of  Fidelity ;  aid-de-camp  to  Frederick  the  Great,  king  of 
Prussia  ;  major-general  and  inspector-general  in  the  revolutionary  war ;  esteemed,  re¬ 
spected,  and  supported  by  Washington.  He  gave  military  skill  and  discipline  to  the  citi¬ 
zen  soldiers,  who,  fulfilling  the  decrees  of  heaven,  achieved  the  independence  of  the 
United  States.  The  highly-polished  manners  of  the  baron  were  graced  by  the  most  noble 

31 


242 


ONEIDA  COUNTY. 


feelings  of  the  heart.  His  hand,  open  as  day  for  melting  charity,  closed  only  in  the  strong 
grasp  of  death.  This  memorial  is  inscribed  by  an  American,  who  had  the  honor  to  be  his 
aid-de-camp,  the  happiness  to  be  his  friend.  Ob.  1795.” 


Trenton  Falls,  at  Trenton. 

The  Trenton  Falls  on  the  West  Canada  creek,  on  the  east  line  of 
the  town  and  county,  are  highly  picturesque  and  sublime.  The  river 
descends  in  a  high,  narrow,  and  rocky  dell,  by  a  succession  of  cata¬ 
racts,  the  most  magnificent  of  which  are  the  High  Falls,  2  miles  NW. 
from  the  village  of  Trenton.  This  cataract  is  one  hundred  and  nine 
feet  in  height,  descending  by  three  different  sheets,  respectively  thirty- 
seven,  eleven,  and  forty-eight  feet  fall,  besides  a  connecting  slope  or 
rapids  betwmen.  The  rocks  that  bind  the  stream  below,  rise  perpen¬ 
dicularly  from  100  to  130  feet,  capped  by  evergreens  of  spruce,  fir, 
hemlock,  and  sublimely  finish  a  landscape  of  uncommon  beauties. 
The  rocks  are  of  a  dark  limestone,  and  contain  large  quantities  of  pet¬ 
rified  marine  shells,  &c.  &c.  These  falls  are  much  visited,  being 
within  two  or  three  hours’  ride  from  the  city  of  Utica,  and  there  is 
here  a  hotel  for  the  accommodation  of  visiters. 

About  one  fifth  of  the  town  of  Vernon  belongs  to  the  Oneida  In¬ 
dians,  forming  part  of  their  reservation,  and  comprising  their  principal 
settlements  near  the  Oneida  village  on  the  Oneida  creek.  Oneida 
Castleton,  22  miles  SW.  from  Utica  and  16  from  Rome,  has  about  25 
dwellings,  and  a  church  belonging  to  the  Indians,  who  number  about 
200.  On  the  south  side  of  the  turnpike  road,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
village,  is  the  ancient  council  grove  of  the  Six  Nations,  consisting  of 
about  50  large  white  walnut-trees,  still  in  full  vigor.  Vernon,  upon  the 
Skanandoa  creek,  17  miles  SW.  from  Utica,  contains  an  academy,  a 
female  seminary,  and  about  80  dwellings. 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


243 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


Onondaga  county  was  taken  from  Herkimer  in  1794  ;  bounds 
since  altered  by  the  formation  of  other  counties  from  it.  Greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  36,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  28  miles.  Centrally 
distant  from  New  York  280  miles,  from  Albany  135  miles.  This 
county,  though  not  extensive,  embraces  a  most  important  portion  of 
the  territory  of  this  state.  Here  are  the  salt  springs,  an  inexhaustible 
source  of  immense  wealth  ;  beds  of  gypsum  or  plaster,  of  vast  extent, 
hydraulic  lime,  and  common  limestone.  Surface  is  diversified.  The 
northern  portion  of  the  county  is  level ;  the  centre  and  southern  roll¬ 
ing,  and  rising  in  some  places  into  hills.  The  soil  is  generally  good, 
and  in  some  portions  excellent,  and  under  high  cultivation.  Large 
crops  of  wheat  and  Indian  corn  are  annually  raised.  Both  are  greatly 
aided  by  the  use  of  plaster.  The  principal  lakes  are  Oneida,  Skane- 
ateles,  Onondaga,  an'd  Otisco.  The  Rome  summit,  or  long  level  of 
the  Erie  canal,  69^  miles  in  length,  has  its  western  extremity  near 
Syracuse.  The  county  forms  part  of  the  military  tract,  and  settle¬ 
ments  were  first  made  here  in  the  spring  of  1788,  while  composing 
part  of  Whitestown,  Oneida  county.  The  county  is  divided  into  18 
towns,  of  which  Lysander,  Manlius,  Marcellus,  Onondaga,  and  Pom- 
pey  were  organized  by  general  sessions  in  1789  : 


Camillus, 

Cicero, 

Clay, 

De  Witt, 
Elbridge, 


Fabius, 

La  Fayette, 
Lysander, 
Manlius, 
Marcellus, 


Onondaga, 

Otisco, 

Pompey, 

Salma, 

Skaneateles, 


Spafford, 

Tally, 

Van  Buren. 


The  first  white  settler  in  this  county  was  a  Mr.  Webster,  who  came 
here  in  1786,  and  settled  in  Onondaga  Hollow  among  the  Indians. 
They  gave  him  a  tract  of  a  mile  square.  He  then  opened  a  small 
shop,  married  a  squaw,  and  became  domesticated  among  the  savages. 
In  1788,  he  obtained  permission  of  the  Onondagas  for  Messrs.  Asa 
Danforth  and  Comfort  Tyler  to  establish  themselves  at  Onondaga 
Hollow. 


“  It  was  in  this  ‘  hollow’  that  the  principal  town  and  castle  of  the  Onondaga  Indians, 
in  the  prouder  days  of  that  nation,  stood  ;  and  the  poor  remains  of  that  once  warlike  and 
haughty  member  of  the  Oquanuschioni,  or  the  amphyctionic  league  of  the  Five  Nations, 
numbering  a  few  hundred  souls,  are  yet  dragging  out  their  lingering  existence  in  the  same 
valley,  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  the  village  I  have  just  mentioned. 

“  The  history  of  the  Onondaga  nation,  to  say  nothing  of  their  own  legends  antecedent  to 
the  discovery  and  settlement  of  the  country  by  the  ‘  pale  faces,’  is  full  of  interest.  It  was 
the  central  nation  of  the  great  confederacy,  the  terror  of  whose  arms  was  almost  co-ex- 
tensive  with  the  northern  and  eastern  division  of  the  continent,  and  whose  actual  domain 
at  one  time  extended  from  the  Sorel,  south  of  the  great  lakes,  to  the  Mississippi  west, 
thence  east  to  the  Santee,  and  coastwise  back  to  the  Hudson.  The  great  council-fire  of 
the  confederacy  was  in  the  special  keeping  of  the  Onondagas,  and  by  them  was  always 
kept  burning.  The  territory  proper  of  the  confederacy  extended  from  Albany  to  Lake 
Erie,  and  was  called  the  Long  House.  The  Mohawks  kept  the  eastern  door,  and  the 
Senecas  the  western.” 


244 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


Salina,  the  shire  town,  is  situated  on  Onondaga  lake,  a  sheet  of 
water  6  miles  long,  averaging  1  in  width  :  the  township  consists  prin¬ 
cipally  of  the  lands  reserved  by  the  state  for  the  use  of  the  salt 
springs  on  the  borders  of  the  lake. 


Southeastern  view  of  Salina  village. 


The  above  is  a  southeastern  view  of  the  village  of  Salina  and  salt¬ 
works,  as  viewed  from  an  elevation  called  Prospect  Hill,  which  rises 
on  the  eastern  side  of  Syracuse  village.  The  Oswego  canal,  which 
forms  a  junction  with  the  Erie  canal  at  Syracuse,  is  seen  on  the  left. 
The  lake  is  seen  in  the  distance.  The  central  part  of  Salina  is  one 
and  a  half  miles  north  of  Syracuse.  It  is  probable  that  the  two  vil¬ 
lages  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  by  the  increase  of  population,  will 
be  blended  into  one.  Salina  village  lies  upon  a  plain  rising  near  the 
centre  of  the  marsh.  It  contains  3  churches,  a  bank,  and  86  salt  man¬ 
ufactories.  In  1839  the  amount  of  salt  inspected  in  this  village  was 
1,283,204  bushels.  The  village  of  Liverpool  is  about  4|  miles  north 
of  Syracuse,  on  the  lake  and  Oswego  canal,  consisting  of  about  60 
dwellings  ;  the  amount  of  salt  inspected  here  in  1839,  was  859,733 
bushels.  Geddes  village  was  incorporated  in  1832  ;  it  is  pleasantly 
situated  2  miles  west  from  Syracuse,  at  the  head  of  the  lake.  The 
amount  of  salt  inspected  here  in  1839,  was  249,245  bushels.  The 
amount  inspected  at  Syracuse,  was  472,558  bushels. 

The  annexed  is  a  western  view  in  the  central  part  of  Syracuse,* 


*  Syracuse  is  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  rapidity  of  growth  of  some  of  our  western 
villages.  The  following,  from  the  pen  of  the  editor  of  the  N.  Y.  Commercial  Advertiser, 
who  visited  the  place  in  1820,  and  again  in  1840,  is  well  worthy  of  perusal : — 

“  It  was  only  in  the  autumn  of  1820,  the  year  in  which  the  middle  and  first-construct¬ 
ed  section  of  the  Erie  canal  was  opened  for  navigation,  that  your  humble  servant  made  the 
passage  from  Utica  to  this  place,  in  a  rude  boat,  alone  with  Mr.  Forman,  a  distance  of 
sixty  miles.  The  country  at  that  time,  from  Rome  to  Salina,  was  wild.  The  canal  pierced 
the  wilderness  of  Rome  only  to  emerge  therefrom  at  this  place.  The  land  almost  the 
entire  distance  was  low,  marshy,  and  cold.  The  forests,  most  of  the  distance  evergreen, 
were  deep  and  dank  ;  and  the  advancing  settlers  had  eschewed  the  region  as  unfit  for  cul¬ 
tivation.  But  the  clearing  for  the  canal  let  in  a  stretch  of  daylight,  which  enabled  people 
to  see  more  distinctly.  The  marshes  and  swamps  were  to  a  considerable  extent  drained 
by  the  canal ;  and  its  banks,  instead  of  the  shades  of  a  gloomy  forest,  now  for  the  most 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY 


245 


Western  view  in  the  central  part  of  Syracuse. 

Sept.,  1840. 

showing  the  Erie  canal,  the  Syracuse  House,  and  some  other  build¬ 
ings  in  the  vicinity.  This  village,  which  now  has  a  city-like  appear¬ 
ance,  was  incorporated  in  1825,  contains  about  700  houses,  the  county 
buildings,  1  Episcopal,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Baptist 
church,  a  bank,  and  2  newspaper  establishments.  The  Syracuse 

part  refresh  the  sight  by  the  prospect  of  a  well-settled  country,  smiling  under  the  hand  of 
well-rewarded  industry. 

“  Mr.  Forman  was  in  one  sense  the  father  of  the  canal.  That  is,  being  a  member  of  the 
legislature  in  1807,  (I  think  that  was  the  year,  but  have  not  the  journals  by  me,)  he  moved 
the  first  resolution  of  inquiry  upon  the  subject  of  opening  a  channel  of  artificial  navigation 
from  the  Hudson  river  to  the  great  lakes.  And  from  that  day  until  the  completion  of  that 
stupendous  work,  in  1825,  his  exertions  were  unremitting  and  powerful  in  the  cause.  Pass, 
ing  as  the  canal  does,  close  by  the  head  of  Onondaga  lake,  within  the  toss  of  a  biscuit  of 
some  of  the  salt  springs,  and  within  two  miles  of  the  principal  and  strongest  fountain,  at 
Salina,  Mr.  Forman  saw  the  immense  advantages  which  the  site  of  this  place  presented  for 
a  town ;  with  the  completion  of  the  middle  section  of  the  canal,  Syracuse  was  begun.  At 
the  period  of  my  first  visit,  but  a  few  scattered  and  indifferent  wooden  houses  had  been 
erected,  amid  the  stumps  of  the  recently  felled  trees.  I  lodged  for  a  night  at  a  miserable 
tavern,  thronged  by  a  company  of  salt-boilers  from  Salina,  forming  a  group  of  about  as 
rough-looking  specimens  of  humanity  as  I  had  ever  seen.  Their  wild  visages,  beards  thick 
and  long,  and  matted  hair,  even  now  rise  up  in  dark,  distant,  and  picturesque  perspective 
before  me.  I  passed  a  restless  night,  disturbed  by  strange  fancies,  as  I  yet  well  remember. 
It  was  in  October,  and  a  flurry  of  snow  during  the  night  had  rendered  the  morning  aspect 
of  the  country  more  dreary  than  the  evening  before.  The  few  houses  I  have  already  de¬ 
scribed,  standing  upon  low  and  almost  marshy  ground,  and  surrounded  by  trees  and  en¬ 
tangled  thickets,  presented  a  very  uninviting  scene.  *  Mr.  Forman,’  said  I,  *  do  you  call 
this  a  village  ?  It  would  make  an  owl  weep  to  fly  over  it  P  *  Never  mind ,’  said  he  in  re¬ 
ply,  ‘  you  will  live  to  see  it  a  city  yet .’ 

“  These  words  were  prophetical.  The  contrast  between  the  appearance  of  the  town  then 
and  now,  is  wonderful.  A  city  it  now  is,  in  extent,  and  the  magnitude  and  durability  of 
its  buildings,  albeit  it  may  not  boast  of  a  mayor  and  common  council  to  oppress  the  people 
by  insupportable  assessment,  and  partake  of  turtle  and  champagne  for  the  benefit  of  the 
poor.  But  as  I  glanced  upward,  and  around,  upon  splendid  hotels,  and  rows  of  massive 
buildings  in  all  directions,  and  the  lofty  spires  of  churches  glittering  in  the  sun,  and  tra¬ 
versed  the  extended  and  well-built  streets,  thronged  with  people  full  of  life  and  activity — 
the  canal  basins  crowded  with  boats  lading  and  unlading  at  the  large  and  lofty  stone  ware¬ 
houses  upon  the  wharves — the  change  seemed  like  one  of  enchantment.” 


246 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


academy  is  a  fine  brick  edifice  4  stories  high,  with  an  observatory, 
spacious  grounds,  &c.  The  Syracuse  House  is  of  brick,  4  stories 
high,  and  is  one  of  the  most  splendid  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the 
state.  Syracuse  is  133  miles  from  Albany,  by  the  canal  171,  278  from 
New  York,  99  from  Rochester,  and  from  Utica  61  miles.  This  town 
embraces'  the  principal  salt  springs  and  salt-works  of  the  state,  with 
the  Onondaga  or  salt  lake.  “  These  salt  springs  were  known  to  the 
aboriginal  inhabitants,  who  communicated  their  knowledge  to  the 
white  settlers.  One  of  the  latter  about  50  years  since,  with  an  Indi¬ 
an  guide  in  a  canoe,  descended  the  Onondaga  creek,  and  by  the  lake 
approached  the  spring  on  mud  creek.  Salt  water  was  at  that  time 
obtained  by  lowering  to  the  bottom,  four  or  five  feet  below  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  fresh  water  of  the  lake,  an  iron  vessel ;  which  filling  in¬ 
stantly  with  the  heavier  fluid,  was  then  drawn  up.  In  this  way,  by 
boiling  the  brine,  a  small  quantity  of  brownish-colored  and  very  im¬ 
pure  salt  was  obtained.  With  the  settlement  of  the  country  the  vi¬ 
cinity  was  explored  and  many  other  sources  of  brine  discovered. 
Wells  were  then  sunk,  generally  to  the  depth  of  18  feet.  There  was 
a  great  difference  in  the  strength  of  water  which  they  afforded,  va¬ 
rying  with  seasons,  and  diminishing  in  draught  nearly  one  third. 
With  the  introduction  of  hydraulic  machinery  for  pumping  in  1822, 
a  more  rapid  influx  of  brine  was  produced,  and  a  new  era  in  the  man¬ 
ufacture.  A  difference  of  opinion  prevails  as  to  the  source  of  the 
brine.  The  general  opinion  is,  that  beds  of  rock  salt  exist  here  as  at 
other  salt  springs.  Borings  have  been  made  at  several  points ;  in 
one  instance  to  the  depth  of  250  feet,  without  finding  fossil  salt.  But 
the  very  important  fact  was  elicited,  that  the  strength  of  the  brine 
increased  with  the  depth  of  the  well.  The  salt  beds  in  Cheshire, 
England,  were  discovered  about  160  years  since,  in  boring  for  coal 
at  about  125  feet  below  the  surface;  and  since  have  been  penetrated 
to  twice  that  depth.  But  the  salt  mines  of  Wilielska,  near  Cravocia, 
in  Poland,  are  worked  at  the  depth  of  750  feet ;  and  those  at  Epe- 
ries  at  950  feet.  The  failure  therefore  to  discover  salt  beds  here 
should  not  discourage  further  efforts.  Should  beds  of  rock  salt  be 
discovered  and  rendered  accessible,  this  source  of  wealth  must  be 
greatly  enlarged.  The  salt  beds  near  Norwich,  England,  produce 
more  than  150,000  tons  annually — nearly  three  times  as  much  as  the 
annual  products  of  the  Onondaga  springs.  The  salt  at  Salina  is 
manufactured  by  evaporation  by  the  sun,  or  artificially.  By  the 
slower  process  of  the  former,  the  coarse  salt  is  made,  and  the  fine  by 
the  rapid  evaporation  produced  by  fire.” 

The  following  cut  is  a  representation  of  a  field  of  salt  vats  near 
Syracuse  for  the  manufacture  of  coarse  salt.  In  the  distance  is  seen 
a  pump  house,  from  which  the  brine  is  conducted  to  each  of  the  vats 
by  a  succession  of  bored  logs.  The  vats  are  about  16  feet  in  length, 
by  7  in  width,  and  are  arranged  in  continuous  rows  for  a  great  dis¬ 
tance,  as  above  represented.  Between  the  rows  alleys  run  sufficiently 
wide  to  admit  the  passage  of  a  horse  and  cart.  On  each  side  and 
parallel  with  the  vats,  there  is  a  line  of  light  roofs  which  can  be 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


247 


shoved  off  and  on  at  pleasure,  to  permit  the  rays  of  the  sun  to  act 
upon  the  waters  or  to  avert  the  rain.  As  the  salt  precipitates,  it  as¬ 
sumes  the  form  of  beautiful  crystals,  like  the  various  trinkets  fre¬ 
quently  made  for  the  ladies’  fairs,  &c.  ;  the  action  of  shovelling  the 
salt  into  carts  destroys  the  crystals,  when  of  course  the  elegance  of 
form  vanishes.  These  vats  with  their  sheds  cover  enough  ground  in 
the  vicinity  to  make  several  moderate  sized  farms,  and  the  beams 
of  the  sun  reflecting  from  their  roofs  cause  them  to  appear  in  the  dis¬ 
tance  not  unlike  the  surface  of  a  lake. 

The  fine  salt  requires  more  skill  in  the  manufacture.  For  this  pur¬ 
pose  rough  wooden  structures  are  erected  about  70  feet  in  length, 
and  25  feet  in  breadth.  The  annexed  view  of  the  inside  of  one  of 
these  salt  manufactories  was  taken  at  the  entrance,  and  shows  imme- 


Vievo  of  afield  of  salt-vats,  Salina. 


diately  in  front  the  commencement  of  the  oven  which  runs  the  remain¬ 
ing  length  of  the  building.  On  top  of  it  are  the  boilers,  arranged  in  two 
parallel  rows,  generally  numbering  from  15  to  25  boilers  in  each  row, 
which  are  supplied  with  the  brine  by  a  cylindrical  hollow  log  with 
faucets.  This  log  leads  from  a  reservoir  in  the  rear  of  the  building, 
which  in  its  turn  is  filled  by  tubular  logs,  connecting  with  the  pump 
house,  which  in  some  cases  is  a  mile  or  more  distant.  There  are  in 
the  whole  many  miles  of  aqueduct  logs,  which  are  generally  con¬ 
structed  of  pine.  On  entering  one  of  these  works  at  night  the  view 
is  interesting.  Clouds  of  vapor  are  continually  ascending  from  the 
numerous  boilers,  and  partially  obscuring  the  forms  of  the  attendants. 
Huge  piles  of  salt  of  snowy  whiteness  in  the  bins  each  side  of  the 
building  are  beheld  laying  in  contact  with  the  rough,  dingy  walls, 
while  the  fire  from  the  furnace,  shedding  a  partial  light  over  the 
whole,  renders  it  a  striking  scene. 

“  There  are,  however,  various  modes  of  applying  artificial  heat  in 
the  manufacture  of  salt,  other  than  that  employed  in  the  ordinary 
process  of  boiling  in  kettles.  In  one  arrangement,  tubes  heated  by 
steam  pass  through  a  vat  or  vats  of  considerable  extent,  the  brine 
having  been  previously  freed  from  its  insoluble  impurities,  by  being 


248 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


Internal  view  of  a  salt  manufactory,  Salina. 


allowed  to  remain  for  some  time  in  the  cistern,  or  by  the  addition  of 
lime.  This  furnishes  salt  in  fine  cubic  crystals  of  great  purity,  es¬ 
pecially  in  those  parts  of  the  vats  which  are  at  some  distance  from 
the  immediate  source  of  heat.” 

The  springs  from  which  the  works  are  supplied  are  pierced  through 
the  alluvia]  and  terminate  on  gravel.  The  strength  of  the  brine  is 
graduated  on  the  following  standard  :  fresh  water  being  placed  at  0°, 
and  water  perfectly  saturated  with  salt  at  100°.  According  to  this, 
the  “ old  spring”  stands  at  50°,  and  the  “new”  at  70°.  In  each  cubic 
foot  of  water  there  is  about  2J  ounces  of  “  bitterns,”  or  impure  de¬ 
posit  composed  of  lime,  iron,  &c.  Fourteen  pounds  of  salt  are  man¬ 
ufactured  from  a  cubic  foot  of  the  water  from  the  strongest  spring. 

The  salt-works  are  quite  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  state,  as  it  re¬ 
ceives  2  mills  a  bushel  for  pumping  the  water,  and  6  cents  duty  on 
the  salt  made.  The  amount  annually  manufactured  is  three  millions 
of  bushels ;  and  the  number  of  men  employed  in  the  four  villages  of 
Geddes,  Liverpool,  Salina,  and  Syracuse,  about  three  thousand. 


Account  of  a  French  Colony  established  at  Onondaga ,  in  1656,  under  the  auspices  of 

Le  Sieur  Dupuys .* 

“  The  Jesuit  Dablon  had  established  himself  at  Onondaga  in  the  character  of  a  mission¬ 
ary.  He  arrived  here  in  the  month  of  September,  1655.  In  March  of  the  following  year, 
he  in  company  with  a  numerous  escort  of  savages,  made  the  voyage  to  Quebec  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  persuading  M.  de  Lauson  to  establish  a  French  colony  at  Onondaga.  He  arrived 
there  in  the  beginning  of  April,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  M.  De  Lauson  to  enter  into 
his  views.  Fifty  Frenchmen  were  selected  to  go  and  form  the  proposed  establishment,  and 
the  Sieur  Dupuys,  an  officer  of  the  garrison,  was  appointed  their  commandant.  Father 
Francis  Le  Mercier,  Superior  General  of  the  Catholic  Missions,  was  desirous  of  conducting 
in  person  those  whom  he  had  destined  to  establish  the  first  Iroquois  church,  who  were 
Fathers  Freemen,  Mesnard,  and  Dablon.  Their  departure  was  fixed  for  the  7th  of  May, 
and  although  the  crop  had  been  lighter  than  usual,  they  gave  Dupuys  provisions  sufficient 
to  last  him  a  whole  year,  with  grain  enough  to  enable  him  to  sow  the  land. 

“  The  news  of  this  enterprise  being  spread  all  around,  gave  the  Mohawks  much  concern, 


*  Copied  from  a  MS.  History,  by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Adams,  of  Syracuse. 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


249 


and  revived  their  jealousy  towards  the  Onondagas.  A  general  council  of  all  the  tribe  was 
called  to  deliberate  upon  this  affair,  which  seemed  to  them  of  great  importance,  and  the 
conclusion  was,  that  all  their  resources  must  be  put  in  requisition  to  oppose  the  new  estab. 
lishment.  A  party  of  400  men  was  immediately  raised,  and  orders  were  given  them  either 
to  disperse  or  cut  to  pieces  the  company  of  M.  Dupuys.  They  failed,  however,  to  accom¬ 
plish  their  object,  and  only  revenged  themselves  upon  some  straggling  canoes,  which  were 
pillaged,  and  a  part  of  those  who  conducted  them  were  wounded.  After  a  short  stay  at 
Three  Rivers  and  at  Montreal,  M.  Dupuys  left  the  latter  place  on  the  8th  of  June,  and  the 
same  day  fell  in  with  a  party  of  Mohawks,  whom  he  pillaged  as  a  reprisal  for  the  outrage 
related  above. 

“  On  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  towards  9  o’clock  in  the  evening,  they  heard  in  the 
camp  the  voice  of  a  man  groaning.  The  commandant  ordered  the  drum  to  be  beat,  and  im¬ 
mediately  they  perceived  a  savage  approaching  in  great  distress.  He  was  a  Huron,  who 
had  escaped  after  the  expedition  of  the  isle  of  Orleans.  The  skin  of  his  body  was  half 
roasted,  and  for  seventeen  days  he  had  taken  no  nourishment,  except  some  wild  fruits 
which  he  had  gathered.  The  Onondagas  who  accompanied  the  French,  made  him  a  drink 
which  soon  restored  the  tone  of  his  stomach.  They  then  gave  him  some  provisions  and 
sent  him  on  to  Quebec. 

“  The  remainder  of  the  voyage  was  prosperous,  except  that  they  suffered  from  a  scarcity 
of  provisions,  which  had  been  very  badly  managed.  They  had  calculated  as  usual  upon  find¬ 
ing  an  abundance  of  fish  and  game.  Both  however  failed,  and  the  French,  who  were  unac¬ 
customed  to  fasting  like  the  Indians,  would  have  perished  with  hunger,  had  not  the  Onon¬ 
daga  sachems  sent  to  meet  them  some  canoes  loaded  with  provisions.  They  learnt  from 
these  Indians,  that  a  great  number  of  the  Iroquois  of  all  the  tribes,  were  awaiting  their  ar¬ 
rival  on  the  shores  of  the  Lake  Gannentaha.  M.  Dupuys,  therefore,  prepared  himself  to 
make  his  entrance  into  the  lake  as  imposing  as  possible.  Before  arriving  at  the  place 
where  the  savages  were  stationed,  he  put  ashore  5  small  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  had  them 
discharged.  He  then  re-embarked,  and  rowing  in  beautiful  order,  entered  the  lake,  where 
in  less  than  an  hour  he  made  two  discharges  of  all  his  musketry.  He  was  received  by  the 
sachems  and  such  as  were  with  them  awaiting  his  arrival  with  the  greatest  apparent  cor¬ 
diality  and  respect.  They  were  welcomed  with  harangues,  feasts,  songs,  and  dances,  and 
with  every  demonstration  of  joy  which  the  savages  were  capable  of  giving.  On  the  follow¬ 
ing  day,  which  was  the  12th  of  July,  a  solemn  mass  was  offered  and  the  Te  Deum  sung. 
The  sachems  then  made  presents,  as  they  were  accustomed  to  do  in  treaties  of  alliance,  and 
on  the  16th  the  French  all  united  in  celebrating  the  Eucharist.  On  the  day  following  they 
commenced  building  huts,  and  Father  Mercier  went  to  visit  the  village  of  the  Onondagas, 
where  he  was  received  with  great  ceremony.  On  the  24th  a  general  council  was  held,  at 
which  the  jesuits,  Mercier  and  Chaumont,  explained  the  views  of  the  French  and  solicited 
their  kind  regards  to  their  new  neighbors.  They  also  endeavored  to  enlighten  their  minds 
on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  produced  so  great  an  impression  as  to  render  it  necessary  to 
enlarge  the  chapel  which  had  been  built  nearly  a  year  before,  more  than  one  half.  They 
experienced  in  the  month  of  August  excessive  heat,  which  produced  much  sickness ;  but 
by  the  kind  attention  of  the  savages  all  the  disorders  were  eased  in  a  short  time. 

“  This  last  mark  of  affection  from  these  people  persuaded  the  more  credulous  of  them  to 
believe  that  they  might  rely  upon  them  in  all  cases ;  but  the  more  prudent  of  them  thought 
it  necessary  to  make  use  of  precaution  at  least  against  their  inconstancy  ;  and  these  were 
found  in  the  end  to  have  pursued  the  wisest  course,  for  two  years  had  not  elapsed  before 
they  were  compelled  by  the  perfidy  of  the  savages  to  abandon  their  settlement  and  return 
to  Montreal.  A  conspiracy  which  extended  itself  through  the  Iroquois  cantons  was  formed 
against  them,  and  unequivocal  indications  of  hostility  were  soon  given.  Three  Frenchmen 
were  scalped  near  Montreal  by  the  confederates,  and  other  hostilities  committed,  which  left 
no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  the  French  of  their  intention  to  destroy  the  new  colony.  In  the 
month  of  Feb.,  1658,  numerous  bands  of  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  and  Onondagas,  had  taken 
the  field  equipped  for  war.  Dupuys  was  informed  of  all  that  transpired  by  a  converted  In¬ 
dian.  He  found  himself  greatly  embarrassed,  and  indeed  saw  no  means  of  extricating 
himself  from  the  difficulty  without  much  trouble  and  at  great  hazard.  To  fortify  himself 
and  sustain  a  siege  would  be  only  to  put  off  his  ruin  and  not  prevent  it,  for  he  had  no  suc¬ 
cor  to  hope  for  from  Quebec,  or  it  would  not  be  able  to  reach  him  in  time.  It  would  be¬ 
come  necessary  sooner  or  later  to  yield  or  die  fighting,  or  at  length  to  perish  of  hunger  and 
misery. 

“  To  effect  his  escape  M.  Dupuys  required  first  to  construct  some  canoes,  for  they  had 
not  taken  the  precaution  to  reserve  any.  But  to  work  at  them  publicly  would  be  to  an¬ 
nounce  his  retreat,  and  thereby  render  it  impossible.  Something  must  be  resolved  on  im¬ 
mediately,  and  the  commandant  adopted  the  following  plan.  He  immediately  sent  an 

32 


250 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY, 


express  to  M.  D’Aillebout  to  inform  him  of  the  conspiracy.  He  then  gave  orders  for  the 
construction  of  some  small  light  batteaux ;  and  to  prevent  the  Iroquois  from  getting  wind  of 
it,  he  made  his  people  work  in  the  garret  of  the  Jesuit’s  house,  which  was  larger  and  more 
retired  than  the  others. 

“  This  done,  he  warned  all  his  people  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  depart  on  the 
day  which  he  named  to  them,  and  he  supplied  each  one  with  provisions  sufficient  for  the 
voyage,  and  charged  them  to  do  nothing  in  the  mean  time  to  excite  the  suspicions  of  the 
Iroquois.  It  only  remained  now  to  concert  measures  for  embarking  so  secretly  that  the 
savages  should  have  no  knowledge  of  their  retreat  until  they  should  have  advanced  so  far 
as  not  to  fear  pursuit,  and  this  they  accomplished  by  a  stratagem  singular  enough. 

“  A  certain  young  Frenchman  who  had  acquired  great  influence  with  the  Indians,  had 
been  adopted  into  one  of  their  most  respectable  families.  According  to  the  custom  of  the 
Indians,  whoever  was  adopted  by  them  became  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  that  belonged 
to  native  members  of  the  family.  This  young  man  went  one  day  to  his  adopted  father,  and 
told  him  that  he  had  on  the  night  before  dreamed  of  one  of  those  feasts  where  the  guests 
eat  every  thing  that  is  served,  and  that  he  desired  to  have  one  of  the  kind  made  for  the  vil¬ 
lage  ;  and  he  added,  that  it  was  deeply  impressed  upon  his  mind  he  should  die  if  a  single 
thing  were  wanting  to  render  the  feast  just  such  a  one  as  he  described.  The  Indian  gravely 
replied  that  he  should  be  exceedingly  sorry  to  have  him  die,  and  would  therefore  order  the 
repast  himself  and  take  care  to  make  the  invitations,  and  he  assured  him  that  nothing  should 
be  wanting  to  render  the  entertainment  every  way  such  an  one  as  he  wished.  The  young 
man  having  obtained  these  assurances,  appointed  for  his  feast  the  19th  of  March,  which 
was  the  day  fixed  upon  for  the  departure  of  the  French.  All  the  provisions  which  the 
families  through  the  village  could  spare  were  contributed  for  the  feast,  and  all  the  Indians 
were  invj|ed  to  attend. 

“  The  entertainment  began  in  the  evening,  and  to  give  the  French  an  opportunity  to  put 
their  boats  into  the  water  and  to  load  them  for  the  voyage  without  being  observed,  the 
drums  and  trumpets  ceased  not  to  sound  around  the  scene  of  festivity. 

“  The  boats  having  now  been  launched  and  every  thing  put  in  readiness  for  a  departure, 
the  young  man,  at  the  signal  agreed  upon,  went  to  his  adopted  father  and  said  to  him,  that 
he  pitied  the  guests,  who  had  for  the  most  part  asked  quarter,  that  they  might  cease  eating, 
and  give  themselves  to  repose,  and  adding,  that  he  meant  to  procure  for  every  one  a  good 
night’s  sleep.  He  began  playing  on  the  guitar,  and  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  every 
Indian  was  laid  soundly  to  sleep.  The  young  Frenchman  immediately  sallied  forth  to  join 
his  companions,  who  were  ready  at  the  instant  to  push  from  the  shore. 

“  The  next  morning  a  number  of  the  Indians  went,  according  to  their  custom  on  awaking, 
to  see  the  French,  and  found  all  the  doors  of  their  houses  shut  and  locked.  This  strange 
circumstance,  joined  to  the  profound  silence  which  everywhere  reigned  through  the  French 
settlement,  surprised  them.  They  imagined  at  first  that  the  French  were  saying  mass,  or 
that  they  were  in  secret  council ;  but  after  having  in  vain  waited  for  many  hours  to  have 
the  mystery  solved,  they  went  arid  knocked  at  some  of  the  doors.  The  dogs  who  had  been 
left  in  the  houses  replied  to  them  by  barking.  They  perceived  some  fowls  also  through 
the  palings,  but  no  person  could  be  seen  or  heard.  At  length,  having  waited  until  evening, 
they  forced  open  the  doors,  and  to  their  utter  astonishment  found  every  house  empty. 

“  The  savages  could  not  explain  this  movement.  They  could  not  comprehend  how  the 
French,  whom  they  knew  to  have  no  canoes,  had  got  away,  and  there  was  no  idle  fancy 
that  did  not  enter  into  their  heads  rather  than  imagine  in  what  manner  the  thing  had  hap¬ 
pened.  This  was  the  first  time  in  which  boats  had  been  used  for  such  voyages.  But  had 
the  French  possessed  canoes,  it  would  not  have  been  possible  to  use  them,  as  the  rivers 
were  still  covered  with  ice,  and  from  this  cause  the  Indians  were  prevented  from  success¬ 
fully  pursuing  them.  M.  Dupuys  took  care  however  to  leave  nothing  to  fear  from  a  pur¬ 
suit.  He  used  such  diligence,  that  in  spite  of  contrary  winds  which  detained  him  a  long 
time  on  Lake  Ontario,  he  arrived  at  Montreal  in  fifteen  days.  The  pleasure  of  finding  him¬ 
self  delivered  from  such  imminent  danger,  could  not  however  prevent  him  from  feeling  sen¬ 
sibly,  that  so  precipitate  a  flight  was  disgraceful  to  his  nation,  and  from  regretting  that  for 
the  want  of  a  trifling  aid,  he  had  been  unable  to  sustain  an  establishment  of  so  much  im¬ 
portance,  and  of  giving  law  to  a  people  who  drew  their  strength  and  the  right  of  insulting 
them  from  their  weakness. 

“  The  Iroquois  after  this  carried  war  into  Canada,  and  in  1660,  the  colony  was  reduced 
to  extreme  distress  by  sickness  and  the  incursions  of  the  savages.  In  the  year  following  it 
was  ascertained  that  there  was  not  less  than  twenty  Frenchmen  in  Onondaga.  They  had 
been  taken  prisoners,  but  were  suffered  to  enjoy  a  considerable  degree  of  liberty.  These 
men  had  converted  a  wigwam  into  a  chapel,  where,  in  connection  with  many  of  the  Hu- 
rons  and  some  of  the  Onondagas,  they  regularly  assembled  to  say  mass.  It  was  reported 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


251 


also  that  the  matrons  of  the  Onondaga  village,  who  are  the  principal  corps  d'Etat,  had 
taken  no  part  in  the  conspiracy  which  had  obliged  Dupuys  to  retire,  and  that  for  seven  days 
successively  they  had  wept  with  their  children  for  the  loss  of  the  French  priests.  This  re¬ 
port  however  had  no  foundation  in  truth.  The  credulity  of  the  Jesuit  could  not  distinguish, 
in  matters  of  religion,  between  things  which  he  only  desired  might  be  true  and  those  which 
were  really  so.” 

Location  of  the  colonies  of  Dupuys. — It  will  be  very  natural  to 
conclude  from  the  account  which  we  have  now  given  of  the  colony 
of  Dupuys,  that  its  location  was  contiguous  to  the  Onondaga  village. 
Such  however  was  not  the  fact,  if  by  the  village  of  Onondaga  be 
meant  their  principal  village.  From  some  incidental  allusions  made 
in  history  to  the  relative  position  of  this  colony,  it  is  to  be  inferred 
that  it  was  established  upon  grounds  now  occupied  by  the  village  of 
Salina.  In  a  passage  of  the  history  written  by  Francis  Creuxius, 
which  we  have  already  had  occasion  to  quote,  it  is  stated  that  the 
place  agreed  upon  for  the  residence  of  the  French  was  distant  from 
the  Indian  village  about  four  French  leagues,  and  that  this  place  was 
distinguished  for  two  remarkable  springs,  issuing  from  the  same  hill, 
the  one  affording  an  abundance  of  salt  water,  the  other  of  fresh.  He 
states,  also,  that  at  this  place  there  was  an  extensive  meadow,  or 
spacious  open  grounds  which  reached  down  to  the  bank  of  the  Lake 
Gannentaha.  It  appears  also  from  the  circumstances  connected  with 
the  departure  of  the  colony,  that  they  must  have  been  in  the  imme¬ 
diate  vicinity  of  the  lake,  as  their  batteaux  were  constructed  in  the 
Jesuit’s  house,  and  launched  and  freighted  without  any  allusion  from 
the  historians  to  the  time  that  must  have  been  occupied  or  the  diffi¬ 
culties  that  must  have  been  encountered  in  transporting  them  to  the 
place  of  debarkation.  The  reason  why  the  narrative  proceeds  as 
though  the  Onondaga  village  and  the  French  settlement  occupied  the 
same  grounds,  or  were  in  (adjacent  juxtaposition)  to  each  other,  is 
this — that  the  Indians  were  distributed  into  different  villages  or  en¬ 
campments,  one  of  which  was  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  place 
where  Salina  now  stands.  The  main  village  was  at  Onondaga,  but 
a  constant  intercourse  was  kept  up  between  the  different  encamp¬ 
ments,  and  the  French  settlement  was  now  a  point  of  attraction 
around  which  the  Indians  rallied ;  and  this  explains  the  facility  of 
intercourse  which  existed  between  the  French  at  Salina  and  the 
Indians  at  Onondaga. 

Skaneateles  was  taken  from  Marcellus  in  1830.  Pop.  3,981. 
The  village  of  Skaneateles  is  situated  at  the  outlet  or  northern  ter¬ 
mination  of  the  lake  of  that  name,  18  miles  SF.  from  Syracuse,  and 
has  about  1,500  inhabitants.  It  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  and  pic¬ 
turesque  villages  in  western  New  York.  The  following  shows  the 
appearance  of  the  village  of  Skaneateles  as  viewed  from  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Barber,  on  the  western  Lake  road  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
outlet  of  the  lake,  seen  on  the  left ;  the  Episcopal  and  Presbyterian 
churches  are  seen  on  the  right.  From  this  village  the  eye  measures 
about  half  the  distance  of  the  lake,  which  is  16  miles  in  length  by  an 
average  width  of  one  mile.  There  is  no  marshy  land  on  either  shore 
of  this  lake.  The  soil  is  of  the  best  limestone  quality,  and  the  finely 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


•252 


Southwestern  view  of  Skaneateles. 


cultivated  fields  (mostly  fenced  with  cedar  posts  and  hemlock  boards) 
make  a  gradual  descent  for  a  considerable  distance  to  the  margin  of 
the  lake.  A  railroad,  5  miles  in  length,  has  lately  been  constructed  from 
this  village  north  to  Elbridge,  where  it  intersects  the  railroad  from  Al¬ 
bany  to  Buffalo.  A  charter  was  obtained  during  the  session  of  the  legis¬ 
lature  in  1841,  for  extending  this  lateral  road  3  miles  further  north  to 
the  village  of  Jordan,  on  the  Erie  canal,  where  that  canal  receives  a 
feeder  from  the  Skaneateles  lake,  after  its  waters  have  afforded  an 
immense  power  for  milling  and  manufacturing  purposes,  the  descent 
of  the  8  miles  from  Skaneateles  to  Jordan  being  about  500  feet.  The 
railroad  between  these  two  villages  will  run  near  the  margin  of  this 
stream,  affording  important  facilities  to  flouring  mills  and  manufac¬ 
turers.  Goods  will  hereafter  be  carried  on  this  road  from  Jordan 
to  Skaneateles,  and  thence  through  the  lake  to  Cortland  county. 
Should  a  railroad  be  constructed  from  the  head  of  the  lake  through 
Homer  south  to  the  Susquehannah,  (and  such  an  enterprise  is  much 
talked  of,)  Skaneateles  and  Jordan  will  become  places  of  exten¬ 
sive  business.  Among  the  important  items  of  transportation,  will  be 
that  of  coal  from  Pennsylvania,  to  be  more  particularly  distributed  at 
Jordan  to  various  points.  Previous  to  the  making  of  the  Erie  canal, 
the  great  thoroughfare  for  merchandise  and  emigration  to  the  west 
was  through  Skaneateles.  Since  the  completion  of  that  work,  this 
village  has  not  kept  pace  with  some  new  towns  which  have  grown 
into  large  cities  in  a  few  years,  under  the  peculiar  advantages  afford¬ 
ed  by  the  great  internal  improvements  ;  but  from  its  unsurpassed 
beauty  of  location,  and  its  great  facilities  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
it  cannot  but  experience  a  steady  and  healthful  growth,  until  at  some 
future  day  it  will  become  a  place  of  no  ordinary  importance.  The 
stranger  who  visits  this  beautiful  village,  often  expresses  surprise  that 
it  has  not  long  since  been  selected  as  the  site  of  an  extensive  semina¬ 
ry  of  learning,  or  some  public  benevolent  institution.  In  the  village 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


253 


are  about  12  stores,  a  number  of  carriage-making  establishments,  an 
extensive  woollen  factory,  flouring  mill,  iron  foundry,  machine  shop,  and 
various  mechanics.  The  first  grist-mill  was  erected  in  the  village  in 
1795.  About  the  same  time  the  first  merchant,  Winston  Day,  estab¬ 
lished  himself  here.  Bricks  were  first  made  here  in  1797  ;  the  first 
tavern  was  erected  the  same  year,  and  only  two  houses  besides  (of 
logs)  in  what  is  now  called  the  village.  The  town  had  been  first 
settled  a  few  years  earlier  on  the  old  Genesee  road.  The  first  bridge 
across  near  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  was  built  about  1800.  The  first 
church  in  the  place  was  organized  July  20th,  1801,  and  then  styled 
“  The  First  Church  of  Christ  in  Marcellus.”  It  was  organized  a  Con¬ 
gregational  church,  but  subsequently  changed  to  the  Presbyterian 
form  of  government.  It  is  believed  to  be  the  first  church  of  any  de¬ 
nomination  that  was  formed  in  the  old  and  formerly  extensive  town  of 
Marcellus.  There  have  been  for  many  years  past  in  the  village  a  Bap¬ 
tist,  Episcopal,  and  Methodist  church,  now  flourishing  societies. 


View  in  the  central  part  of  Manlius. 

The  principal  village,  called  Manlius  after  the  name  of  the  town,  is 
situated  3  miles  S.  of  the  Erie  canal  at  Hulls  landing,  and  about  5 
miles  from  the  railroad.  It  is  10  miles  from  Syracuse,  and  134  from 
Albany.  Its  population  is  estimated  at  between  11  and  12  hundred. 
Annexed  is  a  cut  of  the  village  ;  the  building  with  an  attic  and 
cupola  is  the  academy,  the  church  to  the  right  of  it  is  the  Presbyterian, 
and  the  one  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  the  Episcopa¬ 
lian.  This  church  is  the  oldest  in  the  place,  and  formerly  stood  on 
the  top  of  the  steep  hill  east  of  the  academy,  (not  seen  in  the  view,) 
from  whence  it  was  removed  on  wheels  to  its  present  location  a  few 
years  since,  with  its  steeple,  bell,  organ,  &c.,  without  jarring  it  so 
much  as  to  remove  a  square  foot  of  plastering.  The  Baptist  and 
Methodist  churches  are  not  seen  from  this  point.  The  latter  was 
originally  ornamented  with  a  spire,  but  as  it  was  thought  by  some  of 
the  congregation  to  betoken  spiritual  pride,  it  was  torn  down  soon 
after  it  was  built,  and  in  its  place  was  substituted  the  present  low  tower. 
The  two  story  and  a  half  building  near  and  to  the  right  of  the  acade¬ 
my,  was  formerly  a  tavern,  and  is  made  up  in  part  of  the  oldest  frame 


254 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


in  the  village.  The  cupolas  in  the  distance  belong  to  cotton  mills,  of 
which  there  are  3  in  the  place,  known  as  the  Limestone,  Manlius, 
(carried  on  by  an  incorporated  company,)  and  Cold  Spring  factories. 
There  are  also  in  this  village  3  flouring  mills,  3  coach  factories,  2  fur¬ 
naces,  &c.  The  Manlius  academy  was  incorporated  April  13,  1835, 
with  nine  trustees,  who  are  authorized  to  fill  vacancies  in  their  number. 
It  has  already  attained  the  rank  of  fifth  in  the  literary  institutions  of  this 
senate  district,  and  received  in  1840  from  the  regents  of  the  univer¬ 
sity  #316.65,  as  its  portion  of  the  state  literature  fund.  The  number 
of  students  during  that  year  was  274,  62  of  whom  studied  languages. 

Fayetteville,  about  2  miles  N.  of  Manlius  village,  situated  on  a 
feeder  to  the  Erie  canal,  has  about  100  dwellings,  4  churches,  and  an 
incorporated  academy.  Marcellus,  about  10  miles  SW.  of  Syracuse, 
contains  about  80  dwellings,  3  churches,  and  a  number  of  mills  of  vari¬ 
ous  kinds.  Jordan,  on  the  Erie  canal,  is  an  incorporated  village,  12 
miles  W.  from  Syracuse,  having  about  150  dwellings,  3  churches,  10 
stores,  and  a  number  of  mills.  Baldwinsville,  a  manufacturing  village 
12  miles  NW.  of  Syracuse,  is  connected  by  the  Seneca  river  with  the 
Oswego  canal.  It  has  upwards  of  100  dwellings,  and  the  Baldwins¬ 
ville  Seminary. 

Pompey  Hill,  on  an  eminence  which  overlooks  the  country  for  a 
great  distance,  contains  about  70  dwellings,  a  Baptist  and  Presbyte¬ 
rian  church,  and  an  academy.  “  About  two  miles  south  of  Manlius 
square  in  the  town  of  Pompey,  are  the  remains  of  a  town,  which  ex¬ 
tended  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  north  to  south,  and  half  a  mile 
from  east  to  west.  Large  spots  of  black  mould  in  regular  intervals, 
and  a  few  paces  apart,  in  which  are  ashes,  mark  out  the  sites  of  the 
houses.”  Here  were  three  forts  of  circular  or  elliptical  forms,  form¬ 
ing  a  triangle  which  protected  the  approaches.  Near  Delphi,  in  the 
southeast  part  of  the  town,  are  two  falls  70  feet  perpendicular  ;  near 
this  place  $re  the  remains  of  three  ancient  works.  The  largest  con¬ 
tains  six  acres,  and  has  a  triangular  form.  It  had  a  ditch,  rampart, 
and  gateway ;  the  others  also  have  ramparts,  ditches,  and  entrances. 
There  were  many  graves  within  the  largest  fort,  over  and  around 
which  were  trees  200  years  old,  With  human  bones  were  found  axes, 
brass  kettles,  gun-barrels,  Spanish  coins,  &c. 

The  following  account  of  a  French  colony  located  in  this  town  in 
the  year  1666,  is  from  a  memoir  by  De  Witt  Clinton,  on  the  antiqui¬ 
ties  of  western  New  York.  He  derived  the  account  partly  from  a 
manuscript  journal  of  one  of  the  Jesuits,  and  partly  from  the  sachems 
of  the  Six  Nations  ; — 

“  From  the  Jesuit’s  journal  it  appears  that  in  the  year  1666,  at  the  request  of  Karakon- 
tie,  an  Onondaga  chieftain,  a  French  colony  was  directed  to  repair  to  his  village  for  the 
purpose  of  teaching  the  Indians  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  endeavor  if  practicable  to  civil¬ 
ize  and  Christianize  them.  Wo  learn  from  the  sachems  that  at  this  time  the  Indians  had 
a  fort,  a  short  distance  above  the  village  of  Jamesville,  on  the  banks  of  a  small  stream 
near ;  a  little  above  which,  it  seems,  the  chief  Karakontie  would  have  his  new  friends  set 
down.  Accordingly  they  repaired  thither,  and  commenced  the  labor,  in  which  being 
greatly  aided  by  the  savages,  a  few  months  only  were  necessary  to  the  building  of  a  small 
village. 

“  This  little  colony  remained  for  three  years  in  a  very  peaceable  and  flourishing  situa- 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 


255 


tion,  during  which  time  much  addition  was  made  to  the  establishment,  and  among  others 
a  small  chapel,  in  which  the  Jesuit  used  to  collect  the  barbarians  and  perform  the  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  his  church.  About  this  time,  (1669,)  a  party  of  Spaniards,  consisting  of 
twenty-three  persons,  arrived  at  the  village,  having  for  guides  some  of  the  Iroquois,  who 
had  been  taken  captives  by  some  of  the  southern  tribes.  It  appears  evident  that  this  par¬ 
ty  came  up  the  Mississippi,  passed  Pittsburg,  and  on  to  Olean  Point,  where,  leaving  their 
canoes,  they  travelled  by  land.  They  had  been  informed  that  there  was  a  lake  to  the 
north  whose  bottom  was  covered  with  a  substance  shining  and  white,  which  they  took 
from  the  Indians’  description  to  be  silver. 

“  Having  arrived  at  Onondaga  Lake  and  the  French  village,  and  finding  no  silver,  they 
seemed  bent  on  a  quarrel  with  the  French,  whom  they  charged  with  having  bribed  the 
Indians,  so  that  they  would  not  tell  them  where  the  silver  might  be  found.  A  compro¬ 
mise  was  finally  effected,  they  agreed  that  an  equal  number  of  Spaniards  and  French 
should  be  sent  on  an  exploring  expedition.  The  Indians  seeing  these  strangers  prowling 
the  woods,  with  various  instruments,  suspected  some  design  to  be  in  operation  to  deprive 
them  of  their  country.  This  jealousy  was  much  increased  by  the  accusation  of  the  Eu¬ 
ropeans  themselves.  The  Spaniards  told  the  Indians  that  the  only  object  of  the  French 
was  to  tyrannize  over  them.  The  French,  on  the  other  hand,  asserted  that  the  Spaniards 
were  laying  a  plan  to  rob  them  of  their  lands. 

“  The  Indians  by  this  time  becoming  jealous  of  both,  determined  in  private  council  to 
rid  themselves  of  these  intruders.  Having  privately  obtained  the  assistance  of  the  Onei- 
das  and  Cayugas,  they  agreed  upon  the  time  and  manner  of  attack.  A  little  before  day¬ 
break  on  All-Saints’  Day,  1669,  the  little  colony,  together  with  the  Spaniards,  were 
aroused  from  their  slumbers  by  the  discharge  of  fire-arms  and  the  war-whoop  of  the  sav¬ 
ages.  Every  house  was  immediately  fired  or  broken  open,  and  such  as  attempted  to  es¬ 
cape  from  the  flames  were  killed  by  the  tomahawk ;  and  not  one  of  the  colonists  or  Span¬ 
iards  was  left  alive  to  relate  the  sad  disaster.” 

This  history  accounts,  in  the  opinion  of  its  author,  for  the  appear¬ 
ance  at  this  place  of  a  small  village,  the  evident  remains  of  a  black¬ 
smith’s  shop.  In  several  other  places  in  the  county,  says  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Adams,  in  his  manuscript  history,  the  remains  of  blacksmiths’ 
shops  have  been  discovered,  and  in  some  instances  the  tools  used  by 
the  trade.  A  blacksmith’s  vice  was  found  buried  deep  in  the  ground 
on  a  farm  in  Onondaga  Hollow,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south 
of  the  turnpike.  But  the  existence  of  a  fort  near  this  spot,  every  ves¬ 
tige  of  which  is  nearly  obliterated,  readily  accounts  for  these  relics 
of  civilization.  In  the  cultivation  of  the  lands  lying  upon  the  Onon¬ 
daga  creek,  innumerable  implements  of  war  and  of  husbandry  have 
been  found,  scattered  over  a  territory  of  four  or  five  miles  in  length. 
Swords,  gun-barrels,  gun-locks,  bayonets,  balls,  axes,  hoes,  &c.,  have 
been  found. 


256 


ONTARIO  COUNTY. 


ONTARIO  COUNTY. 


Ontario  county  was  taken  from  Montgomery  in  1789,  and  in¬ 
cluded  all  the  land  of  which  the  pre-emptive  right  had  been  ceded  to 
the  state  of  Massachusetts,  which  that  state  afterward  sold  to  Phelps 
and  Gorham,  and  which  afterward  chiefly  passed  into  the  possession 
of  the  Holland  Land  Company  and  the  Pulteney  estate.  Ontario  coun¬ 
ty  then  extended  from  the  pre-emption  line  a  mile  eastward  of  Geneva, 
so  as  to  include  within  its  limits  all  the  territory  within  the  bounds  of 
this  state  west  of  that  line.  This  was  commonly  known  as  the  “  Ge¬ 
nesee  country,”  although  the  title  was  occasionally  more  extensively 
applied,  and  from  it  have  been  formed  the  counties  of  Steuben,  Allega¬ 
ny,  Cattaraugus,  Chatauque,  Erie,  Niagara,  Genesee,  Wyoming,  Or¬ 
leans,  Monroe,  Livingston,  Yates,  Wayne,  in  part,  leaving  to  a  tract 
around  the  former  chief  town,  (Canandaigua,)  the  name  of  Ontario. 
In  1790,  this  extensive  territory  had  only  1,075  inhabitants.  The 
surface  is  agreeably  diversified,  waving  in  gentle  swells  and  valleys  of 
ample  area,  with  tracts  of  champaign,  and  in  the  southern  part  more 
or  less  hilly.  The  soil  partakes  of  a  considerable  variety,  but  a  warm 
and  rich  mould  forms  the  greater  proportion,  while  along  the  borders 
of  Lake  Ontario  there  are  tracts  of  clayey  loam,  with  but  a  slight  ad¬ 
mixture  of  mould.  The  principal  streams  are  Flint  creek,  Canandai¬ 
gua  outlet,  and  Mud  creek.  The  lakes  are  Canandaigua,  Honeoye, 
Caneadea,  and  Hemlock.  Canandaigua  lake  is  14  miles  long,  and 
from  one  to  two  broad,  and  is  elevated  670  feet  above  the  ocean.  It 
is  navigable  throughout.  Its  inlet  is  a  small  stream  of  some  5  or  6 
miles  long.  The  Honeoye,  12  miles  west,  extends  about  5  miles,  and 
is  about  a  mile  in  breadth.  The  Caneadea,  2  miles  W.  of  the  Honeoye, 
is  but  3  miles  long  :  the  Hemlock  is  6  miles  long,  varying  from  1  to  2 
in  breadth.  The  county  has  1 5  towns  : 


Bristol,  Farmington, 

Canadice,  Gorham, 

Canandaigua,  Hopewell, 

East  Bloomfield,  Manchester, 


Naples,  South  Bristol, 

Phelps,  Victor, 

Richmond,  West  Bloomfield. 
Seneca, 


Canandaigua  village,  the  capital  of  Ontario  county,  is  situated  in  N. 
lat.  42°  48'  41",  and  3°  20'  W.  long,  from  New  York.  Distant  from 
Albany  195  miles,  from  Buffalo  88,  from  Rochester  28,  from  Utica 
111,  from  Sodus  Bay  on  Lake  Ontario  30,  from  the  Erie  canal  at  Pal¬ 
myra  12,  and  from  Washington  city  365  miles.  The  principal  part  of 
the  village  is  built  on  a  single  street  upwards  of  a  mile  in  length,  rising 
by  a  gentle  ascent  from  the  lake.  The  annexed  engraving  shows  the 
appearance  of  the  central  part  of  the  village  as  seen  from  the  Genesee 
road,  about  half  a  mile  to  the  southwest.  In  the  central  part  of  the 
street,  (north  and  south,)  is  an  open  square,  on  the  western  side  of 
which  are  seen  the  courthouse,  town-house,  and  post-office.  Bios- 


ONTARIO  COUNTV. 


257 


som’s  hotel  stands  on  the  opposite  side.  The  railroad  passes  a  few 
yards  westward  of  the  courthouse.  There  are  4  churches — 1  Pres¬ 
byterian,  1  Baptist,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Episcopal — 2  banks,  2  print¬ 
ing  offices,  a  state  arsenal  and  academy,  and  a  female  seminary. 
The  residences  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  tasteful  manner  in  which 
their  grounds  are  laid  out,  are,  it  is  believed,  not  exceeded  in  beauty 
in  any  village  in  this  country.  Many  of  their  mansions  are  large, 


Southwest  view  of  the  central  part  of  Canandaigua. 


splendidly  furnished,  surrounded  by  trees,  commodious  walks,  odor¬ 
iferous  shrubberies,  beautiful  gardens  and  orchards  adorned  with 
flowers  and  fruits  of  various  kinds,  giving  an  air  of  wealth  and  refine¬ 
ment  to  this  village  rarely  elsewhere  to  be  found.  The  Ontario  Fe¬ 
male  Seminary,  founded  by  the  subscriptions  of  the  inhabitants,  and 
incorporated  in  1825,  is  an  institution  of  high  reputation.  The  num¬ 
ber  of  pupils  in  1839  was  174. 

The  Canandaigua  academy  was  founded  by  the  liberal  donations  of 
Messrs.  Gorham  and  Phelps.  “  The  plan  of  this  school  embraces  a 
thorough  and  extended  course  of  English  and  mathematical  study, 
instruction  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  classics,  to  an  advanced  standing 
of  one  or  two  years  in  our  colleges,  the  teaching  of  the  French  lan¬ 
guage,  and  a  department  for  the  education  of  common  school  teach¬ 
ers.  A  course  of  mathematical  study,  as  extensive  and  as  practical 
as  is  usually  pursued  in  our  colleges,  is  taught  in  this  academy.  [Sur¬ 
veying  and  civil  engineering  are  ably  and  practically  taught.”  This 
institution  has  been  selected  by  the  regents  of  the  university  as  one 
of  the  academies  for  the  education  of  school  teachers,  and  a  depart¬ 
ment  for  this  purpose  has  been  organized.  The  course  adopted  will 
probably  require  three  years,  allowing  the  student  to  teach  school  four 
months  each  year.  The  annual  expenses  of  a  student,  for  board,  tui¬ 
tion,  room  rent,  and  washing,  are  about  $100.  Many  pupils,  by  adopt¬ 
ing  an  economical  mode  of  board,  reduce  their  expenses  to  $60  a 
year. 

In  the  summer  of  1788,  the  year  after  the  purchase  of  western 
New  York  by  Messrs.  Phelps  and  Gorham,  Oliver  Phelps  left  Gran¬ 
ville,  Mass.,  with  men  and  means  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  and 
surveying  this  extensive  territory.  The  wilderness  was  penetrated 

33 


258 


ONTARIO  COUNTY. 


as  far  as  Canandaigua,  about  130  miles  west  of  the  German  Flats, 
then  considered  on  the  frontiers  of  civilization.  By  the  assistance  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  the  missionary  among  the  Six  Nations,  and  a 
commissioner  on  behalf  of  Massachusetts,  Mr.  Phelps  succeeded  in 
collecting  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  those  tribes  whose  warlike  spirit 
still  rankled,  on  account  of  the  chastisement  inflicted  by  Sullivan’s 
expedition.  This  conference  with  the  Indians  was  held  on  a  beauti¬ 
ful  elevation  overlooking  Canandaigua  lake. 

“  Two  days  had  passed  away  in  negotiation  with  the  Indians  for  a  cession  of  their  lands. 
The  contract  was  supposed  to  be  nearly  completed,  when  Red  Jacket  arose.  With  the 
grace  and  dignity  of  a  Roman  senator,  he  drew  his  blanket  around  him,  and  with  a  piercing 
eye  surveyed  the  multitude.  Ail  was  hushed.  Nothing  interposed  to  break  the  silence, 
save  the  rustling  of  the  tree-tops,  under  whose  shade  they  were  gathered.  After  a  long 
and  solemn,  but  not  unmeaning  pause,  he  commenced  his  speech  in  a  low  voice  and  sen¬ 
tentious  style.  Rising  gradually  with  his  subject,  he  depicted  the  primitive  simplicity  and 
happiness  of  his  nation,  and  the  wrongs  they  had  sustained  from  the  usurpations  of  the 
white  man,  with  such  a  bold  but  faithful  pencil,  that  the  Indian  auditors  were  soon  roused 
to  vengeance  or  melted  into  tears. 

“  The  effect  was  inexpressible.  But,  ere  the  emotions  of  admiration  and  sympathy  had 
subsided,  the  white  men  became  alarmed.  They  were  in  the  heart  of  an  Indian  country, 
surrounded  by  more  than  ten  times  their  number,  who  were  inflamed  by  the  remembrance 
of  their  injuries,  and  excited  to  indignation  by  the  eloquence  of  a  favorite  chief.  Appalled 
and  terrified,  the  white  men  cast  a  cheerless  gaze  upon  the  hordes  around  them.  A  nod 
from  the  chiefs  might  be  the  onset  of  destruction.  At  that  portentous  moment,  Farmer’s 
Brother  interposed.  He  replied  not  to  his  brother  chief ;  but,  with  the  sagacity  truly  abo¬ 
riginal,  he  caused  a  cessation  of  the  council,  introduced  good  cheer,  commended  the  elo¬ 
quence  of  Red  Jacket,  and,  before  the  meeting  had  reassembled,  with  the  aid  of  other 
prudent  chiefs,  he  had  moderated  the  fury  of  his  nation  to  a  more  salutary  review  of  the 
question  before  them.” 

The  reassemblage  of  the  council  in  cooler  blood  was  followed  by 
the  satisfactory  arrangement  of  the  treaty,  whereby  the  Indian  title 
to  more  than  two  millions  of  acres  was  extinguished.  The  following 
account  of  facts  connected  with  the  operations  of  Phelps  and  Gorham, 
are  from  the  Rochester  Directory,  published  in  1827. 

“  After  the  treaty,  Mr.  Phelps  surveyed  the  land  into  tracts,  denominated  Ranges,  run¬ 
ning  north  and  south,  and  subdivided  the  ranges  into  tracts  of  six  miles  square,  denominated 
Townships,  and  designated  each  by  numbers,  beginning  to  number  both  ranges  and  town¬ 
ships  at  the  82d  mile-stone,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  tract,  [now  the  southeast  corner 
of  Steuben  county,]  numbering  the  townships  northwardly  to  the  lake  from  one  to  fourteen, 
and  the  ranges  westwardly  from  one  to  seven.  Thus,  Bath  is  designated  as  township 
number  four,  in  the  third  range  ;  Canandaigua  as  township  number  ten,  in  the  third  range ; 
Pittsford  as  number  twelve,  in  the  fifth  range  ;  and  Brighton  as  number  thirteen,  in  the 
seventh  range  of  townships,  in  Gorham  and  Phelps’  purchase. 

“  As  the  Genesee  river  runs  about  twenty-four  degrees  east  of  north  below  Avon,  and 
Mr.  Phelps  continued  his  seventh  range  of  townships  to  the  lake,  the  fifth  range  was  left  to 
contain  but  twelve,  and  the  sixth  range  but  ten  townships ;  and,  in  order  to  square  the 
tract  lying  west  of  Genesee  liver,  he  set  off  two  townships  near  the  lake,  which  he  called 
the  Short  Range,  now  comprising  the  towns  of  Gates  and  Greece,  [and  part  of  Rochester;] 
and  the  present  towns  of  Caledonia,  Wheatland,  Chili,  Riga,  Ogden,  and  Parma,  being  then 
four  townships,  he  called  the  first  range  of  townships  west  of  Genesee  river,  in  Gorham 
and  Phelps’  purchase. 

“  This  tract  formed  the  counties  of  Ontario  and  Steuben  for  many  years,  until  1821, 
when  Monroe  and  Livingston  counties  were  formed,  except  that  part  of  it  lying  west  of 
the  river,  which  was  annexed  to  the  county  of  Genesee  at  its  organization  in  1802,  and  the 
south  part  of  the  seventh  range  set  off  from  Steuben  to  Allegany. 

“  In  1789,  Oliver  Phelps  opened  a  land-office  in  Canandaigua — this  was  the  first  land- 
office  in  America  for  the  sale  of  her  forest-lands  to  settlers ;  and  the  system  which  he 
adopted  for  the  survey  of  his  lands,  by  townships  and  ranges  became  a  model  for  the  man- 


ONTARIO  COUNTY. 


259 


ner  of  surveying  all  the  new  lands  in  the  United  States ;  and  the  method  of  making  his 
retail  sales  to  settlers*by  articles  has  also  been  adopted  by  all  the  other  land-offices  of  indi¬ 
vidual  proprietorships  that  have  followed  after  him. 

“  The  Article  was  a  new  device,  of  American  origin,  unknown  in  the  English  system 
of  conveyancing ;  granting  the  possession,  but  not  the  fee  of  the  land;  facilitating  the  fre¬ 
quent  changes  among  new  settlers,  enabling  them  to  sell  out  their  improvements  and  trans¬ 
fer  their  possession  by  assignment,  and  securing  the  reversion  of  the  possession  to  the 
proprietor  where  they  abandoned  the  premises.  His  land-sales  were  allodial ;  and  the  other 
land-offices  following  his  example,  have  rendered  the  Genesee  farmers  all  fee-simple  land¬ 
holders,  which  has  increased  the  value  of  the  soil  and  the  enterprise  of  the  people. 

“  Oliver  Phelps  may  be  considered  the  Cecrops  of  the  Genesee  country.  Its  inhabitants 
owe  a  mausoleum  to  his  memory,  in  gratitude  for  his  having  pioneered  for  them  the  wil¬ 
derness  of  this  Canaan  of  the  West.” 

Mr.  Maude,  who  travelled  through  this  part  of  the  country  in 
1800,  says  :  “Canandaigua,  in  1792,  was  not  further  advanced  in  im¬ 
provement  than  Geneva,  as  it  then  consisted  of  only  two  frame  houses, 
and  a  few  log  houses.  It  is  now  one  third  larger  than  Geneva,  con¬ 
taining  90  families,  and  is  the  county  town.  Canandaigua  consists 
of  one  street;  from  this  street  are  laid  off  sixty  lots,  thirty  on  each 
side.*  Each  lot  contains  forty  acres,  having  only  22  perches,  or  121 
yards  in  front;  thirty  lots  consequently  extend  the  town  upwards  of 
two  miles  ;  but  the  extremities  of  the  present  town  are  not  more  than 
a  mile  and  half  apart.  These  lots  are  valued  in  their  unimproved 
state  at  $600  or  $1,000  each. — The  principal  inhabitants  of  Canan¬ 
daigua  are,  Thomas  Morris,  Esq.,  Mr.  Phelps,  Mr.  Gorham,  (who 
are  the  greatest  land-owners  in  Canandaigua  and  its  neighborhood,) 
and  Judge  Atwater.  I  was  introduced  also  to  Mr.  Greig,  from  Mor¬ 
peth,  in  England — a  gentleman  reading  law  with  Mr.  Morris.” 

“  The  settlement  of  this  town,”  (Canandaigua,)  says  Mr.  Spafford  in 
his  Gazetteer,  “commenced  in  1790,  and  in  1797  I  found  it  but 
feeble,  contending  with  innumerable  embarrassments  and  difficulties. 
The  spring  of  that  year  was  uncommonly  wet  and  cold.  Besides  a 
good  deal  of  sickness,  mud  knee-deep,  musquitoes  and  gnats  so  thick 
that  you  could  hardly  breathe  without  swallowing  them,  rattle-snakes, 
and  the  ten  thousand  discouragemefits  everywhere  incident  to  new 
settlements, — surrounded  by  these,  in  June  of  that  year  I  saw  with 
wonder  that  these  people,  all  Yankees  from  Massachusetts,  Connec¬ 
ticut,  and  Vermont,  were  perfectly  undismayed,  ‘looking  forward  in 
hope,  sure  and  steadfast.’  They  talked  to  me  of  what  the  country 
would  be,  by  and  by,  as  it  were  history,  and  I  received  it  as  all  fable. 
In  order  to  see  the  whole  power  of  the  county,  a  militia  muster  of 
all  the  men  capable  of  bearing  arms,  I  waited  a  day  or  two  to  attend 
the  training.  Major  Wadsworth  was  the  commanding  officer,  and, 
including  the  men  who  had  guns  and  those  who  had  not,  the  boys, 
women,  and  children,  it  was  supposed  that  near  200  persons  were 
collected.  This  training,  one  of  the  first,  was  held  at  Capt.  Pitts’s, 
on  the  Honeoye,  and  lasted  all  day  and  all  night.” 

The  following  inscriptions  are  copied  from  monuments  in  the  grave¬ 
yard  in  this  place. 

“  Gideon  Granger,  died  Dec.  31,  1822,  aged  '55  years.  Mr.  Granger  was  born  at  Suf- 
field,  Connecticut,  on  the  19th  of  July,  1767.  Having  completed  his  education  at  Yale 


260 


ONTARIO  COUNTY. 


college,  he  soon  appeared  at  the  bar,  where  he  sustained  a  high  character.  He  early 
mingled  in  the  political  conflicts  of  his  country,  in  whose  service  he*was  engaged  until  a 
short  time  before  his  death.  His  native  state  will  long  remember  him  as  one  of  the  ear¬ 
liest  and  ablest  advocates  of  her  school  fund  system.  For  thirteen  years  he  presided  over 
the  general  post-office  department,  with  zeal  and  usefulness.  Bold  in  design  and  ardent 
in  execution,  true  to  his  friends  and  liberal  to  his  adversaries,  warm  in  his  attachments 
and  social  in  his  habits,  his  life  was  endeared  to  his  associates  and  valuable  to  mankind. 


“  In  memory  of  Nathaniel  Gorham,  who  died  Oct.  21st,  1826,  aged  63  years.” 


“  This  is  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  Hon.  Oliver  Phelps,  Esq.,  who  died  21st  of 
Feb.  1809,  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Windsor,  in  the 

State  of  Connecticut . On  the  1st  of  April,  1788,  the  deceased,  in  company  with 

the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Esq.,  purchased  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
its  pre-emptive  right  to  the  lands  now  comprised  in  the  counties  of  Ontario,  Steuben,  Gen¬ 
esee,  Niagara,  Cattaraugus,  Chatauque,  and  Allegany . In  March,  1802,  he  re- 

moped  with  his  family  to  this  place,  where  he  resided  till  his  death.  He  was  appointed 
the  first.  Judge  of  the  county  of  Ontario,  and  elected  a  representative  in  congress  for  t he 
district . ” 


Northeastern  view  of  Geneva. 


'L'lie  village  of  Geneva,  one  of  the  most  beautifully  situated  places 
in  the  state,  was  founded  in  1794,  by  Messrs.  Annin  and  Barton,  and 
incorporated  in  1812.  Distant  from  Albany  179  miles,  98  from 
lltica,  23  from  Auburn,  106  from  Buffalo,  16  from  Canandaigua, 
and  58  N.  of  Elmira.  The  Cayuga  and  Seneca  canal  connects 
Geneva  with  the  Eric  canal  at  Montezuma,  a  distance  of  20  miles, 
one  half  canal  and  one  half  slack-water  navigation.  The  village  is 
situated  at  the  NW.  corner  of  Seneca  lake,  on  the  side  and  summit 
of  an  eminence  120  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lake.  The  princi¬ 
pal  street  runs  parallel  with  the  lake  shore  ;  the  mansion  houses  on  the 
eastern  side  in  the  southern  part  of  the  village  have  terraced  gardens 
reaching  down  to  the  lake.  Few,  if  any  places  in  this  country,  can 
be  selected,  which  present  more  attractions  for  persons  retiring  from 
business,  who  wish  the  enjoyments  of  a  country  life,  combined  with 


ONTARIO  COUNTY. 


2G1 


the  advantages  of  social  intercourse.  The  village  contains  about 
480  dwellings,  1  Episcopal,  1  Presbyterian,  2  Methodist,  1  Baptist, 
1  Associate  Reformed,  1  Reformed  Dutch,  1  Catholic,  and  1  Univer- 
salist  church,  a  bank,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000,  and  2  newspaper 
printing  offices. 

The  Geneva  college,  in  this  place,  was  founded  by  the  inhabitants 
and  incorporated  in  1825,  having  a  president,  a  professor  of  mathe¬ 
matics  and  natural  philosophy,  a  professor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages  and  literature,  a  professor  of  statistics  and  civil  engineer¬ 
ing,  a  professor  of  modern  languages,  history,  and  belle-letters,  a  profes¬ 
sor  of  chemistry  and  mineralogy.  There  is  also  a  medical  depart¬ 
ment,  having  four  professors.  “  This  college  was  one  of  the  first,  if 
not  the  very  first,  to  adopt  those  liberal  improvements  which  afford 
the  advantages  of  a  scientific  and  literary  education  to  young  men, 
who,  from  the  want  of  time  or  inclination,  are  averse  to  entering  on 
the  study  of  the  classics,  and  who,  were  no  provision  made  to  meet 
the  exigency,  would  be  deprived  of  many  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  collegiate  instruction.”  The  college  buildings  are  situated  on 
the  summit  of  the  elevation  which  rises  from  the  lake  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  Main-street,  a  site  rarely,  if  ever,  surpassed  for  beauty 
and  salubrity. 

The  following,  relative  to  the  early  history  of  Geneva,  is  from 
Maude’s  Travels  through  this  part  of  the  country  in  1800. 

“  Geneva  is  situate  at  the  northwest  extremity  of  Seneca  lake.  It  is  divided  into  Upper 
and  Lower  Town.  The  first  establishments  were  on  the  margin  of  the  lake,  as  best  adapted 
to  business ;  but  Capt.  Williamson,  struck  with  the  peculiar  beauty  of  the  elevated  plain 
which  crowns  the  high  bank  of  the  lake,  and  the  many  advantages  which  it  possessed  as  a 
site  for  a  town,  began  here  to  lay  out  his  building-lots  parallel  with  and  facing  the  lake. 
These  lots  are  three  quarters  of  an  acre  deep,  and  half  an  acre  in  front,  and  valued  (in 
1800)  at  $375  per  lot.  One  article  in  the  agreement  with  Capt.  Williamson  is,  that  no 
buildings  shall  be  erected  on  the  east  side  of  the  street,  that  the  view  of  the  lake  may  be 
kept  open.  Those  who  purchase  a  lot  have  also  the  option  of  purchasing  such  land  as  lays 
between  their  lot  and  the  lake — a  convenience  and  advantage  which  I  suppose  few  will 
forego — the  quantity  not  being  great,  and  consisting  principally  of  the  declivity  of  the  bank, 
which,  for  the  most  part,  is  not  so  steep  as  to  unfit  it  for  pasturage  or  gardens. 

“  To  give  encouragement  to  this  settlement,  Capt.  Williamson  built  a  very  large  and 
handsome  hotel,  and  invited  an  Englishman  of  the  name  of  Powell  to  take  the  superintend¬ 
ence  of  it.  Capt.  Williamson  has  two  rooms  in  this  hotel  appropriated  to  himself;  and  as 
he  resides  here  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  he  takes  care  that  Powell  does  justice  to  the 
establishment  and  to  his  guests.  From  this  cause  it  is,  that,  as  it  respects  provisions, 
liquors,  beds,  and  stabling,  there  are  few  inns  in  America  equal  to  the  hotel  at  Geneva. 
That  part  of  the  town  where  the  hotel  is  situated  is  intended  for  a  public  square.  At  Mile- 
point,  a  mile  south  of  the  hotel,  Capt.  Williamson  has  built  a  handsome  brick  house, 
intended  for  the  residence  of  his  brother,  who  had  an  intention  of  establishing  at  Geneva. 

“In  1792,  Geneva  did  not  contain  more  than  three  or  four  families ;  but  such  is  the 
beauty,  salubrity,  and  convenience  of  the  situation,  that  it  now  consists  of  at  least  sixty 
families,  and  is  rapidly  receiving  accessions  as  the  new  buildings  get  finished  for  their  re¬ 
ception.  There  were  at  this  time,  (1800,)  settled  at  Geneva,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colt,  Messrs. 
Johnstone,  Hallet,  Rees,  Bogart,  and  Beekman ;  three  of  these  gentlemen  were  lawyers. 
Here  were  also  two  doctors,  two  storekeepers,  a  blacksmith,  shoemaker,  tailor,  hatter,  hair¬ 
dresser,  saddler,  brewer,  printer,  watchmaker,  and  cabinet-maker.  A  hat  made  entirely 
of  beaver  is  sold  here  for  $10. 

“  Geneva  is  supplied  with  water  conveyed  in  pipes  from  a  neighboring  spring,  and  also 
by  wells.  From  the  lake,  the  town  is  plentifully  supplied  with  a  great  variety  of  excellent 
fish.  Seneca  lake  is  forty-four  miles  long,  and  from  four  to  six  miles  wide.  Its  greatest 
Jepth  is  not  known  ;  the  water  is  very  clear  and  wholesome  ;  the  bottom  is  sand  and  gravel. 


262 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


with  a  clear  sandy  beach,  like  the  seashore,  and,  consequently,  not  infested  with  xnusqui- 
toes,  &c.  This  lake  is  navigated  by  a  sloop  of  forty  tons,  which  runs  as  a  packet,  and 
carries  on  a  trade  between  Geneva  and  Catherinetown,  at  the  head  of  the  lake. 

The  village  of  Vienna  is  beautifully  situated  at  the  junction  of  Flint 
creek  and  the  outlet  of  Canandaigua  lake,  on  the  line  of  the  Auburn 
and  Rochester  railroad,  6  miles  S.  of  the  Erie  canal  and  14  from  Ca¬ 
nandaigua.  It  is  the  principal  produce  market  for  the  surrounding 
country.  There  are  here  4  churches,  an  Episcopal  female  seminary, 
15  stores,  1  printing  office,  5  flouring  mills,  which  manufacture  37,300 
barrels  of  flour  annually,  2  grist-mills,  5  saw-mills,  5  plaster-mills,  1 
clover-mill,  1  furnace,  and  many  other  manufacturing  establishments. 
Vienna  has  a  population  of  1,400.  In  the  vicinity  are  inexhaustible 
beds  of  gypsum,  water  and  quick  lime. 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 

Orange,  an  original  county,  was  organized  in  1683 ;  since  modified 
by  the  subtraction  of  Rockland  county  and  additions  from  Ulster  coun¬ 
ty.  Greatest  length  E.  and  W.  37,  greatest  breadth  N.  and  S.  30 
miles.  Centrally  distant  NW.  from  New  York  65,  from  Albany  SE. 
85  miles.  On  the  east  it  is  bounded  by  the  Hudson,  along  whose  banks 
are  some  of  the  highest  mountains  of  the  Highlands.  Bear  mountain 
is  1,350  feet  in  height,  the  Crow’s  Nest  1,418,  and  Butter  Hill  1,530 
feet  above  tide.  The  county  is  exceedingly  fertile,  and  agriculture  is 
conducted  with  great  skill.  Large  quantities  of  sheep  and  cattle  are 
raised.  Its  butter  is  celebrated.  “  In  mineral  productions  this  county 
is  rich  ;  there  are  vast  beds  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  chiefly  in  the  town  of 
Monroe  ;  in  no  part  of  the  state  is  there,  in  an  equal  area,  a  greater 
quantity  of  this  important  mineral ;  there  is  also  a  bed  near  the  village 
of  Canterbury.  Besides  the  above,  hematic  ore  is  also  found  in  abun¬ 
dance,  and  it  will,  no  doubt,  be  of  great  value,  whether  used  separately 
or  in  mixtures  with  the  magnetic  ores.  There  are  also  several  other 
deposites  of  minerals  found  here.”  Walkill  river,  a  large  and  impor¬ 
tant  mill  stream,  on  which  are  located  extensive  manufacturing  estab¬ 
lishments,  passes  through  near  the  central  part  of  the  county,  in  a 
northerly  direction.  It  rises  in  New  Jersey,  and  empties  into  the  Hud¬ 
son  near  Kingston,  in  Ulster  county.  The  New  York  and  Erie  railroad 
enters  the  SE.  portion  of  the  county  and  passes  through  the  towns  of 
Monroe,  Blooming  Grove,  Goshen,  Minisink,  Walkill,  Mount  Hope, 
and  Deer  Park.  It  is  divided  into  14  towns  : 

Blooming  Grove,  Goshen,  Montgomery,  Walkill, 

Cornwall,  Hamptonburg,  Mount  Hope,  Warwick. 

Crawford,  Minisink,  Newburg, 

Deerpark,  Monroe,  New-Windsor, 


ORANGE  COUNTY, 


263 


Newburg  was  organized  in  1788.  The  township  has  a  hilly  and 
broken  surface,  and  a  good  soil,  much  of  which  is  under  high  culti¬ 
vation.  Pop.  11.4  13. 


South  View  of  Newburg. 


Newburg,  the  half-shire  village  of  Orange  county,  was  originally 
settled  by  the  Palatines  from  Germany  in  1708:  it  was  incorporated 
in  1800.  It  lies  upon  the  steep  acclivity  of  a  hill  rising  from  the 


Washington's  Head-quarters,  Newburg. 


river  to  the  height  of  about  300  feet.  Being  thus  situated,  the  village 
makes  a  fine  appearance  when  seen  from  the  river.  The  river  mar¬ 
gin,  about  600  feet  wide,  affords  space  for  convenient  quays  and 
docks.  A  large  business  centres  here  from  the  neighboring  counties. 
There  are  3  banks,  3  newspaper  printing  offices,  an  incorporated 
academy,  8  churches,  and  about  800  dwellings.  The  village  is  84 
miles  from  Albany,  61  from  New  York,  8  from  West  Point,  10  from 
Poughkeepsie,  and  20  miles  from  Goshen,  the  other  half-shire  town. 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


264 


From  the  upper  terrace  of  the  village  there  is  a  fine  prospect  to  the 
S.  of  West  Point,  the  Crow’s  Nest,  Butter  Hill,  and  the  two  Beacon 
mountains  ;  on  the  SE.  Pollopel’s  Island ;  on  the  E.  the  picturesque 
valleys  of  the  Matteawan  and  Wappinger’s  creeks,  and  the  village  of 
Fiskhill  Landing. 

The  preceding  is  a  northern  view  of  the  old  stone  house  in  the  south 
part  of  Newburg  village,  formerly  the  quarters  of  Washington  when 
the  American  army  were  in  cantonment  in  the  vicinity,  at  the  close 
of  the  revolutionary  war.  In  the  spring  of  1783,  when  the  troops  were 
about  to  be  disbanded  without  their  pay,  there  was  great  discontent 
among  them.  At  this  time  an  anonymous  letter  was  addressed  to 
the  officers,  artfully  calculated  to  excite  passion.  It  was  dated  March 
10th,  1783.  It  was  subsequently  ascertained,  (says  Mr.  Dunlap,)  to 
have  been  written  by  Major  Armstrong,  afterward  secretary  of  war. 

“  The  author  assumes  the  character  of  a  veteran  who  had  suffered  with  those  he  ad¬ 
dressed.  He  tells  them  that  to  be  tame  in  their  present  situation  would  be  more  than 
weakness,  and  must  ruin  them  forever.  He  bids  them  ‘  suspect  the  man  who  would  advise 
to  more  moderation,  and  longer  forbearance.’  He  then  describes  the  high  state  in  which 
the  country  has  been  placed  by  their  services.  And  says,  ‘  does  this  country  reward  you 
with  tears  of  gratitude  and  smiles  of  admiration,  or  does  she  trample  on  your  rights,  disdain 
your  cries,  and  insult  your  distresses  ?’  He  advised  them  to  carry  their  appeal  from  the 
justice,  to  the  fears  of  government.  ‘Assume  a  bolder  tone — say,  that  the  slightest  indig 
nity  from  congress  now  must  operate  like  the  grave,  and  part  you  from  them  forever.’ 
That  if  peace  takes  place,  ‘  nothing  shall  separate  you  from  your  arms  but  death :  if  war 
continues,  that  you  will  retire  to  some  unsettled  country,  with  Washington  at  your  head, 
and  mock  at  the  distresses  of  government.’  The  insidious  expression  of ‘courting  the  aus¬ 
pices,  and  inviting  the  direction  of  their  illustrious  leader,’  was  calculated  to  make  the 
army  believe  that  Washington  would  join  them  in  rebellion  against  his  country,  and  was 
certainly  a  bold  artifice,  coming,  as  it  did,  from  one  in  constant  correspondence  with  Gene¬ 
ral  Gates,  and  attached  to  him  both  by  inclination  and  office. 

“  The  commander-in-chief  noticed  the  anonymous  address  in  orders,  with  pointed  disap¬ 
probation,  and  requested  that  the  general  and  field  officers,  with  a  proper  representation 
from  the  staff  of  the  army,  would  assemble  on  the  15th  instant,  to  hear  the  report  of  the 
committee  deputed  by  the  army  to  congress.  This  request  was  seized  upon,  and  repre¬ 
sented  in  a  second  paper  as  giving  sanction  to  the  proceedings  of  the  officers,  and  they 
were  called  upon  to  act  with  energy.  On  the  15th  of  March,  the  commander-in-chief  ad¬ 
dressed  the  convention  of  officers,  (General  Gates  being  the  chairman,)  in  the  language  of 
truth,  feeling,  and  affection.  He  overthrew  all  the  artifices  of  the  anonymous  writer  and 
his  friends,  one  of  the  principal  of  whom  sat  in  the  chair.  Washington  noticed  the  advice 
to  mark  for  suspicion  the  man  who  should  recommend  moderation.  He  feelingly  spoke  of 
his  own  constant  attention,  from  the  commencement  of  the  war,  to  the  wants  and  suffer¬ 
ings  of  the  army,  and  then  pointed  out  the  dreadful  consequences  of  following  the  advice 
of  the  anonymous  writer,  either  to  draw  their  swords  against  their  country,  or  retire,  if 
war  continues,  from  the  defence  of  all  they  hold  dear.  He  calls  to  mind  the  scenes  in  which 
they  had  acted  together,  and  pledges  himself  to  the  utmost  exertion  for  obtaining  justice  to 
his  fellows  in  arms.  He  requests  them  to  rely  on  the  promise  of  congress.  He  said,  ‘  I 
conjure  you,  in  the  name  of  our  common  country,  as  you  value  your  own  sacred  honor,  as 
you  respect  the  rights  of  humanity,  to  express  your  utmost  horror  and  detestation  of  the  man 
who  wishes,  under  any  specious  pretences,  to  overturn  the  liberties  of  your  country ;  and 
who  wickedly  attempts  to  open  the  floodgates  of  civil  discord,  and  deluge  our  rising  empire 
in  blood.” 

“  The  convention  resolved,  unanimously,  among  other  things,  that  ‘  the  army  have  un¬ 
shaken  confidence  in  congress,  and  view  with  abhorrence,  and  reject  with  disdain,  the  in. 
famous  propositions  contained  in  a  late  anonymous  address  to  the  officers  of  the  army.’  ” — 
Dunlap's  Hist,  of  New  York. 

New  Windsor  was  organized  in  1788.  It  has  an  uneven  surface, 
generally  fertile  and  well  cultivated.  Pop.  2,482.  The  village  of  New 
Windsor,  said  to  be  the  oldest  village  in  the  county,  is  situated  about 


EASTERN  VIEW  OF  NEW  BURG,  N.  Y,  FROM  HUDSON  RIVER. 

Newburg  is  beautifully  situated  on  a  steep  acclivity.  It  is  the  center  of  a  large  trade,  and  has  about  11,000  inhabitants. 
It  contains  11  churches,  viz.  2  Presbyterian,  2  Associate  Reformed  or  Scotch  Presbyterian,  1  Episcopal,  1  Reformed 
Dutch,  1  Methodist,  1  Baptist,  1  Covenanter,  1  African,  and  1  Catholic.  It  has  a  Court  House,  a  Theological  Seminary, 
a  Female  Seminary,  the  Orange  County  Institute,  Newburg  Academy,  High  School,  Lyceum,  Ac. 


ORANUE  COUNTY. 


265 


2  miles  south  from  Newburg,  and  lies  at  the  confluence  of  Cham¬ 
bers’  creek  with  the  Hudson.  The  head-quarters  of  Washington  was 
for  a  time  here,  in  an  humble  Dutch-like  mansion. 


Birthplace  of  Be  Witt  Clinton,  New  Windsor. 


“De  Witt  Clinton  was  born  in  the  village  of  New  Windsor,  March  2d,  1769.  His 
paternal  ancestors  were  of  Norman  origin.  His  grandfather,  Mr.  Charles  Clinton,  at 
the  head  of  a  company  of  associates,  emigrated  from  Ireland  in  1729,  and  settled  in  this 
town.  His  father,  General  James  Clinton,  was  a  brave  and  useful  officer  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars,  and  in  the  revolutionary  struggle.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  revolu¬ 
tion  he  married  Miss  Mary  De  Witt,  a  lady  of  Dutch  descent.  The  fruitof  this  union  were 
four  sons,  of  whom  De  Witt  was  the  second.  His  early  education  was  intrusted  to  the  care 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moffat,  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Little  Britain.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  he  was  transferred  to  an  academy  at  Kingston,  then  conducted  by  Mr.  John 
Addison.  Here  he  remained  two  years,  when  he  entered  the  junior  class  of  Columbia  col- 


Fac-simile  of  De  Witt  Clinton's  signature. 

lege.  At  this  institution  he  distinguished  himself  as  a  scholar,  and  closed  his  academic  ca¬ 
reer  in  1786,  when  he  received  the  usual  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts,  taking,  at  the  com¬ 
mencement,  the  highest  honor  which  the  institution  could  bestow.  He  thereupon  com¬ 
menced  the  study  of  the  law  under  Samuel  Jones,  Esq.,  a  celebrated  counsellor.  After  re. 
ceiving  the  usual  licences  or  degrees  in  his  profession,  he  was  abruptly  called  from  the  fur¬ 
ther  cultivation  of  the  pursuit  by  circumstances  arising  from  the  situation  of  political  affairs 
in  the  state.  “  The  germs  of  the  two  great  parties  which  have  since  divided  the  country, 
were  at  that  time  beginning  to  appear.  His  uncle,  George  Clinton,  then  governor  of  the 
state,  was  assailed  by  a  combination  of  almost  all  the  talents  of  that  section  of  the  country, 
and  pamphlets  and  newspaper  essays  were  poured  upon  the  public  with  unrestrained  pro¬ 
fusion.  Mr.  Clinton,  relinquishing  every  other  pursuit,  entered  warmly  and  exclusively  into 
the  vindication  of  the  conduct  and  principles  of  his  uncle  ;  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  controversial  politics  on  the  anti-federal  or  democratic  side  was  man¬ 
aged  by  him  during  this  period  of  turbulence.  He  continued  with  his  uncle  as  his  secreta¬ 
ry  during  his  administration,  which  ended  in  1795.  Mr.  Clinton  had  been  honored  while 
with  his  uncle  with  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  University,  and  of  the  Board  of  Fortifica¬ 
tions  of  New  York.  Upon  the  retirement  of  the  governor  he  also  withdrew  from  public 
life.  But  his  efforts  as  an  individual,  in  rallying  and  supporting  the  party  of  which  he 
might  then  have  been  considered  the  leader,  were  not  for  a  moment  remitted.  To  do  this 
with  effect,  however,  it  seemed  necessary  that  he  should  be  placed  in  a  public  station  ;  and 
accordingly,  in  1798,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  assembly  from  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  in  1800  was  chosen  a  senator  from  the  southern  district,  and  a  member  of  the  council 

34 


266 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


of  appointment.  From  the  senate  of  this  state,  by  a  joint  ballot  of  both  branches  of  the 
legislature,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  where  he  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  concerns  of  the  country,  in  relation  to  the  differences  then  existing 
with  the  Spanish  authorities  at  New  Orleans.  His  continuance  in  that  august  body,  how¬ 
ever,  was  short,  as  on  receiving  the  appointment  of  mayor  of  New  York  in  October,  1803, 
it  became  necessary  that  he  should  resign  it,  the  duties  of  the  two  offices  being  by  law  in¬ 
compatible.  This  office  he  held  by  successive  appointment,  with  the  exception  of  twenty- 
two  months,  until  1815.  Notwithstanding  the  political  change  in  the  state  in  1813,  such 
was  the  public  confidence  in  him,  that  he  was  continued  in  office  during  the  exciting  pe¬ 
riod  of  the  late  war.  When  President  Madison  received  a  nomination  for  a  second  term, 
Clinton  was  put  in  opposition,  and  received  89  electoral  votes ;  while  Madison  was  elected 
by  128.  Clinton  early  became  a  strong  partisan  in  favor  of  the  Erie  canal,  and  it  is  owing 
to  the  bold  stand  which  he  took  in  favor  of  this  great  enterprise  that  his  popularity  in  a 
measure  was  owing.  In  the  summer  of  1810,  he  went  on  a  tour  with  other  commissioners 
for  exploring  the  route  of  this  work.  This  country  was  then  comparatively  a  wilderness, 
and  there  was  not  a  house  where  the  city  of  Rochester  now  stands.  In  the  spring  of 
1815  he  was  superseded  in  his  office  of  mayor,  and  deprived  of  all  his  public  employments 
except  that  of  canal  commissioner.  In  1817,  he  was  elected  governor  of  the  state,  which 
station  he  held  until  the  commencement  of  the  year  1823.  In  the  autumn  of  1822,  he  de¬ 
clined  another  nomination,  and  returned  to  the  pursuits  of  private  life,  holding  only  the 
office  of  canal  commissioner ;  from  which  he  was  removed  in  the  spring  of  1824  by  an 
overwhelming  vote  of  the  legislature.  At  the  time  of  this  vote,  he  had  for  fourteen  years 
been  steadily  engaged  in  promoting  the  cause  of  the  internal  navigation  of  the  state,  and 
whether  in  or  out  of  office,  had  received  no  compensation  for  these  services.  The  news  of 
his  removal  had  no  sooner  reached  the  principal  towns  in  the  state,  than  large  meetings 
were  held  to  express  the  popular  indignation  at  this  measure.  In  the  city  of  New  York, 
not  less  than  10,000  persons  assembled  at  the  call,  among  whom  were  some  of  his  strong 
political  opponents.  The  consequence  was,  that  the  people  rebuked  this  vote  in  a  most 
emphatic  manner  six  months  afterward  by  electing  him  their  governor,  and  by  the  largest 
majority  ever  previously  known  in  the  state,  in  a  contested  election ;  which  office  he  held 
until  his  death.  When  the  success  of  the  canal  policy  was  made  apparent,  other  states 
eagerly  embarked  in  similar  enterprises,  and  he  was  invited  to  visit  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
to  give  the  aid  of  his  high  authority  to  their  projects  of  internal  improvement.  When  the 
canal  connecting  the  Ohio  with  Lake  Erie  was  commenced,  to  him  was  assigned  the  com¬ 
pliment  of  removing  the  first  earth  of  the  excavation.  His  journey  through  that  state,  like 
the  progress  of  Lafayette,  was  one  continued  triumph.  His  popularity  extended  to  all 
classes.  The  merchants  of  New  York  of  all  political  parties,  grateful  for  his  exertions  in 
behalf  of  the  canal,  and  sensible  of  its  influence  upon  their  prosperity,  presented  him  with 
two  large  and  rich  silver  vases.  De  Witt  Clinton  died  suddenly  on  the  11th  of  February, 
1828,  aged  59  years.  This  event  cast  a  gloom  throughout  the  state,  and  in  public  meet, 
ings  expressions  were  sent  forth  of  heartfelt  sorrow.  Although  placed  in  circumstances 
where  most  men  would  have  accumulated  unbounded  riches,  he  manifested  an  utter  indif¬ 
ference  to  money,  and  died  in  honorable  poverty.  Even  the  plate  presented  to  him  by  the 
merchants  of  New  York  was  exposed  to  sale  after  his  death. 

“  Clinton  was  possessed  of  the  sterner  virtues,  and  would  not  sacrifice  feeling  to  princi¬ 
ple.  Although  a  prominent  mason,  his  stand  in  relation  to  the  abduction  of  Morgan  is  in 
character.  “  The  sheriff  of  one  of  the  frontier  counties  was  accused  of  participation  in 
this  abduction.  The  governor  forthwith  propounded  a  series  of  written  interrogatories  re¬ 
lative  to  his  agency  in  the  transaction,  and  on  his  refusal  to  answer,  issued  a  proclamation 
removing  him  from  office.  This  person,  it  is  to  be  recollected,  was  his  steadfast  friend  and 
political  supporter ;  but  he  would  not  allow  any  personal  considerations  to  weigh  against 
the  public  interest.  In  an  interview  which  the  removed  sheriff  sought,  he  said,  ‘  Strong  as 
is  my  attachment  to  you,  I  will,  if  you  are  guilty,  exert  myself  to  have  you  punished  to  the 
extent  of  the  laws.’  To  which  the  trembling  culprit  replied  in  faltering  tones,  ‘  I  have  done 
nothing  worthy  of  chains  or  death.’  Unlike  most  American  statesmen,  Clinton  was  de¬ 
voted  to  literary  and  scientific  pursuits,  and  was  an  efficient  patron  of  learning.  His  wri¬ 
tings  place  him  high  in  the  ranks  of  science. 

“  Clinton’s  person,  in  his  youth  and  early  manhood,  was  remarkable  for  its  masculine 
beauty,  and  as  years  advanced  assumed  a  majestic  character.  His  stature  was  upwards  of 
six  feet,  straight  and  finely  proportioned.  His  eyes  were  a  dark  hazel,  approaching  to 
black,  and  highly  expressive  ;  his  hair  brown  ;  his  complexion  clear,  and  more  florid  than 
usual  among  Americans ;  his  teeth  fine,  giving  a  peculiar  grace  to  his  smile  ;  his  nose 
slightly  aquiline.  His  habits  of  reflection  and  close  study  were  marked  in  the  ordinary  ex¬ 
pression  of  his  countenance,  which,  controlled  at  an  early  period  of  his  life  to  the  gravity 


ORANGE  COUNTY 


267 


becoming  the  magistrate  and  the  senator,  presented  an  appearance  of  seriousness  almost 
approaching  to  austerity.  When  speaking  in  public,  however,  his  face  expressed,  with  the 
utmost  flexibility,  the  varying  emotions  to  which  his  words  gave  vent ;  while  in  the  inter¬ 
course  of  private  life  and  in  familiar  conversation,  the  gravity  which  rested  on  his  features 
when  not  excited,  gave  way  on  occasion  to  playfulness  and  mirth.’  He  truly  exhibited 
the  picture  of  a  ‘  great  man,  an  elegant  and  profound  scholar,  and  a  practical  citizen — a 
man  of  letters  and  the  world,  and  a  character  of  active  worth  to  the  present  generation 
and  of  solid  and  permanent  advantage  to  posterity.’  ” 


Western  view  of  the  public  buildings  at  Goshen. 


Goshen,  the  half-shire  village  of  Orange  county,  was  founded  in 
1722,  and  incorporated  in  1809;  the  first  court  was  holden  in  1727. 
It  is  20  miles  W.  from  Newburg,  60  from  New  York,  and  100  S.  from 
Albany.  It  contains  a  bank,  2  newspaper  printing  offices,  2  academies, 
(1  for  males  and  1  for  females,)  and  about  60  or  70  dwellings.  In  the 
annexed  engraving,  the  old  stone  courthouse,  which  was  built  about  the 
commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war,  is  seen  on  the  left :  about  the 
time  of  its  erection  the  king’s  arms  were  affixed  over  the  door,  but  the 
revolutionary  excitement  was  so  great  at  this  place,  that  these  royal 
emblems  were  destroyed  the  first  night  after  they  were  set  up.  The 
Episcopal  church  and  the  female  academy  are  seen  on  the  left.  The 
Presbyterian  church  is  seen  near  the  central  part  of  the  engraving. 

Middletown,  7  miles  NW.  of  Goshen,  is  a  thriving  village  on  the  line 
of  the  New  York  and  Erie  railroad.  It  contains  3  churches  and  a  bank. 

Montgomery  village,  on  the  E.  bank  of  the  Walkill,  10  miles  N. 
from  Goshen,  contains  about  150  dwellings,  3  churches,  and  an  incor¬ 
porated  academy.  Walden  is  a  manuffipturing  village  of  about  75 
dwellings,  14  miles  NE.  from  Goshen.  “  The  drowned  lands”  oi  Or¬ 
ange  county  lie  along  the  Walkill  creek,  in  the  towns  of  Minisink, 
Warwick,  and  Goshen.  These  lands,  when  drained,  are  productive. 

West  Point  is  romantically  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson 
river,  52  miles  from  New  York,  and  94  from  Albany.  It  is  the  site  of 
the  United  States  Military  Academy,  established  by  an  act  of  Congress 
in  March,  1802;  and  the  land  ceded  to  the  United  States  govermnent 
by  the  state  of  New  York  in  1826. 


268 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


Northern  view  of  West  Point. 

“  West  Point  is  a  spot  of  peculiar  interest.  It  has  been  hallowed 
by  the  footsteps  of  a  Washington,  a  Kosciusko,  and  a  Lafayette;  it 
is  consecrated  by  a  nation  to  the  Spartan-like  training  of  a  few  de¬ 
voted  sons  from  every  state  of  our  wide-spread  union :  nor  less  sa¬ 
credly  secluded  by  nature  as  the  scene  of  retirement  and  study ;  it 
seems  alike  calculated  to  please  the  pensive  sage  and  the  aspiring 
youthful  soldier ;  while  even  female  loveliness  vouchsafes  to  paint  its 
memories  in  lines  of  hope  and  brightness,  as  *  the  boast  of  a  glory  hal¬ 
lowed  land:' 

‘  Bright  are  the  moments  link’d  with  thee, 

Boast  of  a  glory  hallowed  land  ; 

Hope  of  the  valiant  and  the  free, 

Home  of  their  youthful  soldier  band.’ 

“The  view  of  West  Point  as  you  enter  the  Mountain  Gap,  after 
you  leave  Newburg,  is  delightful.  On  the  left  is  Cozzens’  hotel ;  beyond 
it  are  the  academic  halls,  barracks,  chapel,  &c.,  appropriated  to  the 
cadets ;  and  on  the  right,  are  the  comfortable  dwellings  occupied  by 
the  officers  of  the  academy.  On  the  left,  at  the  angle  of  the  plain, 
are  traces  of  Fort  Clinton ;  and  on  the  right,  towering  far  above 
Camptown,  (the  suburb  occupied  by  soldiers  and  citizens,)  stands  Fort 
Putnam,  on  mount  Independence,  venerable  in  its  ruins — ‘  stern  monu¬ 
ment  of  a  sterner  age,’  which  survived  the  attempts  of  treason  and 
the  assaults  of  bravery,  only  to  yield  its  hallowed  materials  to  the 
desecration  of  a  rapacious  owner.  Of  the  three  monuments  which 
now  meet  your  eye,  the  one  on  the  right  and  nearest  to  you,  on  a 
projecting  tongue  of  land  bordered  with  thick  groves,  is  the  Cadet’s 
Monument,  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased  officers  and 
cadets  of  the  academy.  It  cost  $12,000.  The  centre  one,  near  the 
flag-staff,  is  a  cenotaph,  erected  by  Gen.  Brown  to  the  memory  of 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


269 


Colonel  Eleazer  D.  Wood,  an  early  and  distinguished  graduate  of  the 
academy,  who  fell  at  the  sortie  of  Fort  Erie,  in  1814.  And  the 
monument  on  the  left,  over  the  levelled  redoubt  or  citadel  of  Fort 
Clinton,  is  sacred  to  Kosciusko.” 

The  military  academy  was  established  by  act  of  congress,  in  1802. 
It  was  not  however  until  1812,  that  it  was  placed  on  an  efficient 
basis,  sufficient  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  country.  The  number 
of  applicants  for  cadet  appointments  is  very  great.  In  selecting 
these,  the  descendants  of  revolutionary  officers  are  considered  as 
having  peculiar  claims  to  notice.  The  ratio  of  appointments  is  about 
three  for  each  congressional  district  in  four  years,  and  on  an  average 
only  about  one  third  of  those  who  enter  graduate.  The  age  of  ad¬ 
mission  is  limited  from  sixteen  to  twenty-one  years  ;  and  the  acquire¬ 
ments  necessary  are  an  acquaintance  with  reading,  writing,  and 
the  elementary  principles  of  arithmetic.  There  are  generally  here 
about  250  cadets  who  are  instructed  by  no  less  than  34  gentlemen, 
themselves  graduates  of  the  institution. 

“  The  months  of  July  and  August  in  each  year  are  devoted  solely 
to  military  exercises ;  for  which  purpose  the  cadets  leave  the  bar¬ 
racks  and  encamp  in  tents  on  the  plain,  under  the  regular  police  and 
discipline  of  an  army  in  time  of  war.  For  this  purpose,  the  cadets 
are  organized  in  a  battalion  of  four  companies,  under  the  command 
of  the  chief  instructor  of  tactics  and  his  assistants.  The  corporals 
are  chosen  from  the  third  class,  or  cadets  who  have  been  present  one 
year ;  the  sergeants  from  the  second  class,  who  have  been  present 
two  years  ;  and  the  commissioned  officers,  or  captains,  lieutenants, 
&c.,  are  selected  from  the  first  class,  or  highest  at  the  academy.  All 
the  other  cadets  fill  the  ranks  as  private  soldiers,  though  necessarily 
acquainted  with  the  duties  of  officers.  In  rotation  they  have  to  per¬ 
form  the  duty  of  sentinels,  at  all  times,  day  or  night,  storm  or  sun¬ 
shine,  in  camp,  and  evenings  and  meal-times,  in  barracks.  Cadets 
who  have  been  present  two  encampments,  are  allowed,  if  their  con¬ 
duct  has  been  correct,  to  be  absent  the  third,  on  furlough.  The 
drills  or  military  exercises,  consist  in  the  use  of  the  musket,  rifle,  can¬ 
non,  mortar,  howitzer,  sabre,  and  rapier,  or  broad  and  small  sword ; 
fencing,  firing  at  targets,  &c.,  evolutions  of  troops,  including  those  of 
the  line  ;  and  the  preparation  and  preservation  of  all  kinds  of  ammu¬ 
nition  and  materials  for  war.  The  personal  appearance  of  the  corps 
of  cadets  cannot  fail  to  attract  admiration ;  especially  on  parade  or 
review.  The  uniform  is  a  gray  coatee,  with  gray  pantaloons  in 
winter,  and  white  linen  in  summer.  The  dress  cap  is  black,  with 
dark  pompoon.  The  splendid  band  of  music,  which,  under  Willis, 
made  hill  and  valley  ring  with  notes  of  ‘  linked  harmony  long  drawn 
out,’  though  changed,  still  pleases ;  and  under  its  new  leader,  pro¬ 
mises  soon  to  deserve  its  former  renown,  as  the  best  in  our  country. 

“  The  cadets  return  from  camp  to  barracks  on  the  last  of  August, 
and  the  remaining  ten  months  of  the  academic  year  are  devoted  to 
their  arduous  studies.  The  ceremony  of  striking  the  tents  and  march¬ 
ing  out  of  camp  is  so  imposing,  as  to  be  well  worth  an  effort  of  the 


270 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


visiter  to  be  present  on  that  occasion.  On  the  previous  evening,  the 
camp  is  brilliantly  illuminated  ;  and  being  enlivened  with  music,  danc¬ 
ing,  and  bevies  of  beautiful  strangers,  presents  quite  a  fairy  scene. 

“  For  the  sake  of  more  full  instruction,  each  class  is  divided  into 
several  sections,  each  having  a  separate  instructor.  Thus  each  cadet 
is  called  upon,  at  almost  every  recitation,  to  explain  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  lesson ;  for  the  morning  recitations  generally  occupy 
two  hours  each.  The  written  or  delineated  demonstrations,  are  ex¬ 
plained  on  a  black-board  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  section. 

“  The  studies  of  the  first  year  are  algebra,  geometry,  descriptive 
geometry,  trigonometry,  and  the  French  language.  All  the  mathe¬ 
matical  studies  are  practically  taught  and  applied  to  numerous  pro¬ 
blems  not  in  the  books  ;  on  the  resolution  of  which  greatly  depends 
the  reputation  and  standing  of  each  rival  candidate  for  pre-eminence. 
The  studies  of  the  second  year,  are  the  theory  of  shades,  shadows, 
and  perspective,  practically  illustrated ;  analytic  geometry,  with  its 
application  to  conic  sections  ;  the  integral  and  differential  calculus,  or 
science  of  fluxions  ;  surveying  and  mensuration  ;  the  French  lan¬ 
guage,  and  the  elements  of  drawing,  rhetoric,  grammar,  geography, 
and  topography  with  the  pen.  This  completes  the  course  of  mathe¬ 
matics,  and  also  of  French,  which  the  cadets  learn  to  translate  freely 
as  a  key  to  military  science,  but  which  few  of  them  speak  fluently. 

“  The  third  year  is  devoted  to  a  course  of  natural  philosophy,  in¬ 
cluding  mechanics,  optics,  electricity,  magnetism,  and  astronomy  ; 
together  with  chemistry,  and  sketching  landscapes  with  the  pencil. 

“  The  fourth  and  last  year  is  appropriated  to  the  study  of  artillery 
and  infantry  tactics  ;  the  science  of  war,  and  fortification,  or  military 
engineering ;  a  complete  course  of  civil  engineering,  embracing  the 
construction  of  roads  and  bridges,  railroads  and  canals,  with  the  im¬ 
provement  of  rivers  and  harbors,  &c.  &. ;  a  course  of  mineralogy, 
geology,  and  military  pyrotechny ;  together  with  moral  philosophy, 
and  national  and  constitutional  law. 

“  To  test  the  progress  of  the  cadets  in  these  studies,  semi-annual 
examinations  are  held,  commencing  on  the  first  Mondays  of  January 
and  June  ;  at  the  latter  of  which  a  board  of  visiters,  appointed  by  the 
secretary  of  war,  is  present,  to  make  a  critical  official  report  of  the 
state  of  the  academy.  The  examination  of  all  the  classes  usually 
occupies  about  a  fortnight,  and  is  very  severe  ;  but  still  is  not  con¬ 
sidered  the  full  test  of  individual  proficiency.  Each  instructor  makes 
a  weekly  class  report,  on  which  is  recorded  the  daily  performance 
of  each  cadet ;  those  who  excel  being  credited  3,  and  those  who  fail 
entirely  marked  0.  These  marks  are  accessible  to  the  cadets  from 
week  to  week,  and  stimulate  their  exertions  :  finally,  they  are  summed 
up  at  the  end  of  the  term,  and  laid  before  the  academic  staff  and 
visiters ;  so  that  the  standing  of  each  cadet  is  influenced  not  only  by 
his  examination,  but  by  all  his  previous  recitations.  A  certain  pre¬ 
scriptive  proficiency  being  required  of  the  cadets  in  each  branch, 
those  who  fall  below  this  limit  are  necessarily  discharged  from  the 
service.  Averaging  the  last  ten  years,  where  a  class  of  one  hundred 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


271 


enters  the  academy,  it  is  reduced  to  about  seventy  at  the  end  of  six 
months,  sixty  at  the  end  of  one  year,  fifty  at  the  end  of  two  years, 
and  forty  at  the  end  of  three  years ;  not  more  than  about  thirty-five 
graduating. 

“  There  is  a  general  merit-roll  of  every  class,  made  out  at  the  end 
of  each  academic  year ;  the  merit  of  each  cadet  being  expressed  by 
a  number  denoting  his  proficiency  or  acquirements.  But  the  final 
standing  of  each  cadet,  on  which  depends  his  rank  in  the  army,  is 
determined  by  the  sum  of  his  merit  in  all  the  different  branches  ;  and 
this  depends  not  only  on  his  actual  proficiency  in  any  branch,  but  also 
on  its  relative  importance.  This  latter  is  thus  estimated  at  present  by 
the  academic  staff,  viz  :  Conduct  300  ;  engineering  300  ;  mathematics 
300  ;  natural  philosophy  300  ;  chemistry  and  mineralogy  200  ;  rheto¬ 
ric,  ethics,  and  law  200  ;  infantry  tactics  200  ;  artillery  100  ;  French 
100  ;  and  drawing  100.  Hence  the  individual  who  should  excel  in  all 
the  branches,  would  be  credited  with  2,100  on  the  final  merit-roll ;  but 
no  more  than  three  or  four  such  instances  have  ever  occurred  at  the 
academy.  The  cadet  in  each  class  having  the  greatest  sum  of  merit 
is  placed  first  on  the  roll,  and  so  onward ;  and  he  who  is  deficient  in 
only  one  single  branch  is  discharged,  or  else  turned  back  another  year 
to  receive  a  second  probation.” — Hunt’s  Letters  about  the  Hudson. 

The  graduates  of  the  military  academy  are  entitled  by  law  to  a 
preference  over  other  applicants  for  commissions  in  the  army.  On 
graduating  they  receive  the  commissions  of  brevet,  second  lieuten¬ 
ants,  and  are  subsequently  promoted  on  the  occurrence  of  vacancies. 

On  the  river  bank  at  the  point 
where  th^  Hudson  turns  sud¬ 
denly  to  the  south,  about  30 
rods  east  of  Cozzens’  hotel, 
(seen  in  the  drawing,)  stands 
the  monument  of  Kosciusko. 
It  was  completed  in  1829,  by 
the  corps  of  cadets,  at  an  ex¬ 
pense  of  about  $5,000.  In 
the  vicinity  of  the  monument  is 
Kosciusko’s  garden,  “  whither 
the  Polish  chieftain  was  accus¬ 
tomed  to  retire  for  study  and 
reflection.  Marks  of  cultivation 
are  perceptible  in  the  disposition 
of  the  walks  and  trees,  and  the 
beautiful  seclusion  of  the  spot  still 
invite  to  thought  and  repose.” 

“  Thaddeus  Kosciusko,  an  officer  in  the  American  revolutionary  war,  was  born  in  Li¬ 
thuania,  in  1756,  of  an  ancient  and  noble  family,  and  educated  at  the  military  school  of 
Warsaw.  He  afterward  studied  in  France.  He  came  to  America,  recommended  by 
Franklin  to  Washington,  by  whom  he  was  appointed  an  aid.  He  was  also  appointed  an 
engineer  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  in  Oct.,  1776.  He  fortified  the  camp  of  Gen.  Gates  in 
his  campaign  against  Burgoyne,  and  was  afterward  sent  to  West  Point,  to  erect  the  works 
there.  He  was  highly  esteemed  both  by  American  and  French  officers.  He  was  admitted 
a  member  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  received  the  thanks  of  congress  for  his  services.  At  the 
close  of  the  revolutionary  war,  he  returned  to  his  native  country,  and  was  made  major-ge¬ 
neral  under  Poniatowski.  He  fought  several  battles  with  great  bravery,  but  all  his  efforts 
were  destroyed  by  the  miserable  conduct  of  the  Polish  diet.  In  the  month  of  April,  1794, 
on  the  breaking  out  of  a  new  revolution,  he  was  made  generalissimo,  with  the  power  of  a 


CHANGE  COUNTV. 


070 


dictator.  He  managed  with  great  address  and  bravery,  until  the  10th  of  October,  when 
being  overpowered  and  wounded,  he  was  made  prisoner,  and  carried  to  St.  Petersburg. 
He  was  kept  in  confinement  until  the  death  of  Catherine,  when  he  was  relieved  by  Paul, 
loaded  with  honors,  and  offered  employment  in  the  Russian  service,  which  he  declined.  It 
is  said  that  when  the  emperur  presented  him  with  his  own  sword,  Kosciusko  told  him,  ‘  I 
no  longer  need  a  sword — 1  have  no  longer  a  country.’  In  1797,  he  visited  the  United 
States,  and  received  a  grant  from  congress  for  his  services.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he 
retired  to  Switzerland,  where  he  died  in  Oct.  16,  1817.  llis  remains  were  taken  to  Cra. 
cow.  and  a  public  funeral  made  for  him  at  Warsaw,  where  almost  divine  honors  were  paid 
him.” — Encyclopedia  Americana. 


Ancient  view  of  West  Point. 

[The  above  view  of  West  Point  as  it  appeared  during  the  revolution,  is  copied  from  a  plate 
in  the  New  York  Magazine,  published  in  1790.  Explanation.  A,  Constitution  Island,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river.  B,  A  chain,  450  yards  in  length,  reaching  across  the  Hudson.  C,  Fort 
Clinton,  the  principal  fort,  and  intended  for  the  defence  of  the  river  against  any  naval  force.] 

“  After  the  capture  of  forts  Washington  and  Lee,  during  the  revolution,  the  British  as¬ 
cended  the  river  freely  in  their  armed  ships.  But  in  the  execution  of  Washington’s  design 
of  shutting  up  the  enemy  in  New  York,  by  the  assistance  of  the  French  naval  and  military 
forces,  it  became  necessary  to  exclude  him  from  the  Hudson.  Skilful  engineers  sent  out 
by  the  French  monarch,  selected  West  Point  as  the  most  advantageous  position  for  com¬ 
manding  the  river.  The  hill,  composed  of  huge  crags  and  blocks  of  stone,  fantastically 
heaped  by  nature,  protrudes  to  the  middle  of  the  river,  impelling  its  waters  to  the  opposite 
bank,  and  narrowing  the  channel  to  less  than  half  a  mile  in  width. 

“  The  cliff  selected  for  the  fortress,  rests  against  a  lofty  ridge  broken  into  small  emi¬ 
nences,  that  form  a  species  of  amphitheatre,  washed  below  by  the  river.  It  rises  in  terra¬ 
ces,  the  first  of  which  is  very  narrow,  and  nearly  level  with  the  river ;  the  second,  approach¬ 
able  by  a  steep  ascent  of  80  or  90  feet,  and  the  third,  rising  188  feet  above  the  water, 
spreads  into  a  plateau  of  more  than  a  mile  in  circumference,  on  which  the  principal  works 
were  constructed ;  the  chief  of  which,  was  Fort  Clinton.  The  declivity  is  exceedingly  steep 
nearly  all  around,  and  the  only  side  on  which  the  enceinte  was  accessible,  was  thickly 
palisaded,  and  defended  by  batteries.  An  escalade,  the  sole  mode  of  carrying  the  works, 
was  subjected  to  extreme  hazard.  There  were  several  redoubts  upon  the  eminences,  which 
commanded  Fort  Clinton,  of  which  Fort  Putnam  was  the  most  important.  These  covered 
each  other,  and  the  garrison  and  ammunition  stores  were  under  bomb  proof  casements. 
The  works  partly  hewn  in  the  rock,  and  partly  constructed  of  enormous  trunks  of  trees, 
felled  on  the  spot,  communicating  by  defiles,  formed  a  group  of  strongholds,  connected  by 
a  common  system  of  defence.  The  upper  forts  were  secured  from  assault  by  the  rugged¬ 
ness  of  the  ground,  thick  woods,  and  numerous  abatis,  which  made  the  transport  of  artil¬ 
lery  impracticable,  whilst  they  gave  full  protection  to  the  lower  ones. 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


273 


“  But,  another  work  besides  these  impregnable  fortifications,  was  necessary  to  the  com¬ 
mand  of  the  river.  Constitution  Island  divides  the  bed  of  the  Hudson  unequally,  at  the 
bend  round  the  Point ;  the  western  branch  being  a  marshy  shallow.  The  island,  a  mass 
of  rock,  was  defended  by  batteries  on  a  level  with  the  water,  and  the  glacis  formed  in  the 
rock,  bade  defiance  to  trenches.  A  heavy  chain  cramped  into  the  rocks  at  either  end,  sup¬ 
ported  by  buoys,  stretched  across  the  angle  made  by  the  river,  and  formed  an  effectual  bar. 

“  The  great  object  of  the  works  on  both  sides,  was  to  protect  this  chain.  Twenty  pieces 
of  heavy  ordnance,  discharging  grape,  menaced  those  who  should  attempt  to  cut  a  link,  and 
would  have  inevitably  sunk  their  boats.  If  a  vessel,  iron  beaked,  impelled  by  wind  and 
tide,  should  attempt  it,  the  chain  moving,  on  a  roller  would  grow  slack,  and  the  shock,  thus 
broken,  would  be  again  strained  to  its  due  tension,  and  the  vessel,  turned  aside,  must  bo 
stranded  on  one  or  the  other  shore,  and  remain  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  batteries,  which 
might  be  poured  upon  all  points  of  the  Strait.  These  forts,  provided  with  necessary  muni¬ 
tions,  were  defended  by  four  thousand  men.  They  had  been  built  in  the  course  of  a  single 
year,  almost  without  cost ;  the  soldiers  who  labored  at  them  received  no  pay,  and  the 
French  engineers  superintending,  in  the  minutest  detail,  the  execution  of  their  own  plans, 
had  no  emolument  whatever.  This  post  was  much  desired  by  the  British  commanders, 
and  its  surrender  was  to  have  been  the  first  fruit  of  Arnold’s  treason.” — Gordon's  Gazet. 

The  name  of  Little  Britain  is  given  to  a  district  of  about  4  miles 
square,  in  Hamptonburg  and  New  Windsor,  settled  in  1722  by  Col. 
Charles  Clinton,  (the  progenitor  of  the  distinguished  family  of  Clinton,) 

“  George  Clinton, 
the  youngest  son  of  Col. 
Charles  Clinton,  was 
born  in  Orange  county, 
July  15,  1739.  His  ed¬ 
ucation  was  superin¬ 
tended  by  his  father,  a 
gentleman  of  a  highly 
cultivated  mind,  assist¬ 
ed  by  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  named  Daniel 
Thain,  who  had  been 
educated  at  the  university  of  Aberdeen.  He  evinced  at  an  early  age 
that  spirit  of  activity  and  enterprise  which  marked  his  after  life.  Du¬ 
ring  what  was  called  the  French  ivar,  he  left  his  father’s  house,  and 
entered  on  board  of  a  privateer,  which  sailed  from  the  port  of  New 
York ;  and  after  encountering  great  hardships  and  perils,  returned 
home,  and  immediately  accepted  a  lieutenancy  in  a  company  com¬ 
manded  by  his  brother  James.  He  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Fort 
Frontenac,  now  Kingston,  where  the  company  to  which  he  belonged 
behaved  with  great  gallantry.  After  the  usual  time  of  study  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practised  with  much  success  in  his  native 
county,  until  his  election  to  the  colonial  assembly,  where  he  became 
the  head  of  the  whig  party,  or  minority,  and  uniformly  opposed  the 
arbitrary  course  of  the  government.  He  was  chosen,  April  22d,  1775, 
a  delegate  to  the  continental  congress  ;  and  in  1776,  he  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  of  Ulster  county,  and  some  time  after,  a  brigadier  in 
the  army  of  the  United  States.  At  the  first  election  under  the  consti¬ 
tution  of  the  state,  which  was  adopted  April  20,  1777,  he  was  chosen 
both  governor  and  lieutenant-governor.  Having  accepted  the  former 
office,  the  latter  was  filled  by  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt.  He  continued  in 

35 


and  his  associate  emigrants  from  Ireland. 


Facsimile  of  George  Clinton’s  signature. 


274 


ORLEANS  COUNTY. 


the  chief  magistracy  of  the  state  during  six  terms,  or  18  years,  when 
he  declined  a  re-election.  In  consequence  of  the  great  number  of  to- 
ries  who  resided  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  its  distracted  condition, 
the  situation  of  Governor  Clinton  was  more  arduous  and  important  than 
any  other  in  the  Union,  save  that  of  the  commander-in-chief.  He, 
however,  behaved  with  the  greatest  energy,  not  only  as  chief  magis¬ 
trate,  but  as  an  actual  head  of  the  militia ;  and  for  a  long  time  resisted 
the  attacks  of  the  whole  British  army,  commanded  by  Sir  Henry  Clin¬ 
ton.  By  a  vigorous  exertion  of  authority,  in  the  impressment  of  flour, 
on  an  important  occasion,  he  preserved  the  army  from  dissolution. 
His  conduct  at  the  storming  of  the  forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton,  in 
October,  1777,  was  particularly  praiseworthy.  He  was  greatly  instru¬ 
mental  in  crushing  the  insurrection  under  Shays,  which  took  place  in 
Massachusetts,  in  1787. 

“  Governor  Clinton  was  unanimously  chosen  president  of  the  con¬ 
vention  which  assembled  at  Poughkeepsie  June  17,  1788,  to  deliber¬ 
ate  on  the  new  federal  constitution.  After  remaining  five  years  in 
private  life,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  at  a  time 
when  the  country  was  in  an  agitated  and  critical  condition,  and  it  is 
affirmed  that  his  influence  was  the  principal  cause  of  the  great  politi¬ 
cal  revolution  which  took  place  in  1801.  At  that  period  he  was  also 
induced  again  to  accept  the  station  of  governor,  and  after  continuing  in 
that  capacity  for  three  years,  he  was  elevated  to  the  vice-presidency 
of  the  United  States,  a  dignity  in  which  he  continued  until  his  demise  at 
Washington,  April  20,  1812.  He  married  Cornelia  Tappan,  of  Kings¬ 
ton,  Ulster  county,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  five  daughters. 

“  The  following  anecdotes  are  related  of  his  energy  and  decision  : — ‘  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  revolutionary  war,  when  violence  against  the  tories  was  the  order  of  the  day,  a  British 
officer  was  placed  on  a  cart  in  the  city  of  New  York,  to  be  tarred  and  feathered.  This 
was  the  signal  of  violence  and  assassination.  Governor  Clinton,  at  this  moment,  rushed  in 
among  the  mob  with  a  drawn  sword,  and  rescued  the  victim  at  the  risk  of  his  life.’  ‘  Some 
years  after,  a  furious  assemblage  of  people  collected,  called  the  doctors’  mob,  and  raged 
through  New  York,  with  the  intention  of  killing  the  citizens  of  that  city,  and  pulling  down 
their  houses,  on  account  of  their  having  dug  up  bodies  for  dissection.  The  violence  of  this 
mob  intimidated  the  local  magistrates.  Governor  Clinton  fortunately  appeared  in  person, 
called  out  the  militia,  and  restored  peace  to  the  city.’  He  discharged  the  functions  of  vice- 
president  with  great  dignity.  It  was  by  his  casting  vote  while  in  that  station,  that  the  re¬ 
newal  of  the  bank  charter  was  negatived.  In  private  life,  he  was  kind  and  amiable,  and 
warm  in  his  friendships  ;  as  a  public  man,  he  is  entitled  to  respectful  remembrance.” 


ORLEANS  COUNTY. 

Orleans  county  was  taken  from  Genesee  in  1824.  It  is  24  miles 
long  E.  and  W.,  and  18  miles  broad  N.  and  S.  It  is  centrally  distant 
from  Albany  257,  and  from  New  York  302  miles.  The  summit  of 
the  mountain  ridge  extends  across  the  countv  at  an  elevation  of  about 
340  feet  above  Lake  Ontario.  Parallel  with  this,  on  the  alluvial  way, 
runs  the  ridge  road.  With  these  exceptions,  the  face  of  the  country 
is  generally  level.  The  soil,  mostly  clay  and  argillaceous  loam,  is 
highly  fertile.  Grain  is  raised  in  considerable  quantities.  The  Erie 


ORLEANS  COUNTY. 


275 


canal  passes  centrally  through  the  county.  The  whole  county  was 
included  in  the  grant  to  Massachusetts.  The  towns  of  Barre,  Carl¬ 
ton,  Gaines,  Ridgeway,  Shelby,  and  Yates  belonged  to  the  Holland 
Land  Company  ;  wdiile  Murray,  Clarendon,  and  Kendall  belonged  to 
the  Pulteney  estate.  The  county  was  chiefly  settled  by  New  Eng¬ 
landers,  and  is  divided  into  9  towns,  viz  : 

Barre,  Gaines, 

Carlton,  Kendall, 

Clarendon,  Murray, 


Ridgeway, 

Shelby, 

Yates. 


TT 

siragf 

i 

.ijljljl 

View  of  the  public  buildings  in  Albion. 

Albion,  founded  in  1823  by  Nehemiah  Ingersoll  and  George  Stan¬ 
dard  Jr.,  the  county  seat  of  justice,  incorporated  in  1828,  lies  near  the 
centre  of  the  county  upon  the  Erie  canal ;  from  Albany,  by  the  canal, 
305,  from  Rochester  35,  from  Buffalo  58,  from  Lockport  28  miles. 
The  annexed  view  was  taken  from  the  door  of  the  Baptist  church. 
The  first  building  on  the  right,  a  large  brick  structure,  is  the  Albion 
Eemale  Seminary ;  the  small  building  in  the  centre  of  the  engraving, 
is  the  county  clerk’s  office.  The  building  with  a  cupola  is  the  court¬ 
house,  and  the  one  partially  seen  in  the  rear,  the  jail.  There  are  in 
the  village  1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Methodist  church,  the 
Orleans  county  bank,  2  weekly  newspaper  offices,  and  about  220 
dwellings,  many  of  them  large,  neat,  and  commodious.  The  surround¬ 
ing  country  abounds  in  fruit.  Medina  is  situated  on  the  Erie  canal, 
10  miles  W-  of  Albion,  at  the  junction  of  the  Oak  Orchard  creek, 
which  is  used  as  a  feeder;  the  village  contains  upwards  of  100  dwell¬ 
ings  and  5  churches. 

OSWEGQ  COUNTY. 

Oswego  county  was  taken  from  Oneida  and  Onondaga  counties  in 
1816  ;  centrally  distant  from  New  York  NW.  295,  and  from  Albany 


276 


OSWEGO  COUNTY. 


150  miles.  Greatest  length  E.  and  W.  37  miles,  greatest  breadth  N. 
and  S.  30  miles.  The  surface  is  level  upon  the  west,  south,  and 
southeast ;  in  the  interior  rolling,  and  in  the  north  rising  into  hills. 
The  soil  generally  is  of  a  medium  quality,  some  of  it  highly  fertile, 
better  adapted  to  grass  than  grain.  With  the  exception  of  the  Oswego 
river  there  are  no  large  streams.  “  The  towns  west  of  the  Oswego 
river  constituted  a  part  of  the  military  tract.  The  towns  east  of  the 
river  constitute  a  part  of  £  Scriba’s  patent.’  These  lands  were  origin¬ 
ally  granted  to  Nicholas  Roosevelt,  of  New  York,  who  not  complying 
with  the  terms  of  sale,  they  were  sold  to  George  Scriba,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  at  that  time  a  merchant  in  New  York.  The  town  of 
Richland,  a  large  part  of  Volney,  about  one  half  of  Scriba,  and  the 
town  of  Vienna,  in  the  county  of  Oneida,  upon  a  sale  of  part  of  Mr. 
Roosevelt’s  interest  by  process  from  chancery,  were  jointly  purchased 
by  Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton,  John  Lawrence,  and  John  B.  Church.” 
The  county  has  21  towns. 


Albion, 

Amboy, 

Boylston, 

Constantia, 

Granby, 

Hannibal, 


Hastings, 
Mexico, 
New  Haven, 
Orwell, 
Oswego, 


Palermo, 
Parish, 
Redfield, 
Richland, 
Sandy  Creek, 


Schroeppel, 

Scriba, 

Volney, 

West  Monroe, 
Williamstown. 


Oswego  village,  post  and  half-shire  town,  port  of  entry  and  delivery 
for  Oswego  district,  is  45  miles  W.  from  Sacketts  harbor,  60  from 
Kingston,  Upper  Canada,  60  from  the  mouth  of  Genesee  river,  140 
from  the  mouth  of  Niagara  river,  and  150  from  Toronto  in  a  straight 
line,  and  38  from  Syracuse  on  the  Erie  canal.  The  village  lies  on 
both  sides  of  the  Oswego  river,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  a  bridge 
700  feet  in  length.  The  portion  on  the  eastern  side  is  within  the  lim¬ 
its  of  the  town  of  Scriba. 

The  facilities  which  its  situation  gives  for  commerce  and  manufac¬ 
tures  are  great,  commanding  the  markets  of  the  lakes  and  the  St.  Law¬ 
rence  river,  and  connected  with  the  interior  of  the  state  by  the  Oswego 
and  Erie  canals.  The  water-power  afforded  by  the  canal  and  river  is 
very  extensive,  and  upon  them  are  many  large  manufacturing  estab¬ 
lishments.  The  harbor  is  formed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  by  a  pier 
of  wood,  30  feet  broad,  filled  with  stone,  and  built  by  the  general  gov¬ 
ernment,  extending  on  the  west  side  1,250  feet,  and  on  the  east  250, 
between  which  there  is  an  opening  for  vessels.  Within  the  pier  the 
water  is  from  10  to  20  feet  deep.  The  cost  of  this  work  was  $93,000. 
There  is  here  an  excellent  marine  railway  constructed  at  considerable 
expense.  The  village  is  laid  out  on  streets  100  feet  wide,  running  at 
right  angles.  The  courthouse  is  of  wood,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
There  is  also  1  Presbyterian,  1  Episcopal,  1  Methodist,  1  Baptist,  1 
Congregationalist,  and  1  Catholic  church,  an  incorporated  academy, 
the  Bank  of  Oswego,  capital  $150,000,  the  Commercial  Bank  of  Os¬ 
wego,  incorporated  in  1836,  capital  $150,000,  and  about  600  dwell¬ 
ings.  Pop.  12,209. 


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OSWEGO  COUNTY. 


277 


“  The  fort  here  was  of  great  military  importance  during  the  colonial 
wars.  A  factory  was  established  by  the  New  York  government  in 
1722 ;  and  a  fort  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  in  1727,  and 
enlarged  in  1755  ;  which,  with  Fort  Ontario,  built  on  an  eminence  on 
the  east  in  the  latter  year,  were  on  the  14th  of  August,  1756,  reduced 
by  the  French,  under  Gen.  Montcalm.”  The  following  account  of 
the  investment  and  surrender  of  these  forts  is  taken  from  the  26th 
number  of  the  London  Magazine,  for  the  year  1757. 

“  The  works  at  Oswego  at  this  time  consisted  of  three  forts — viz,  the  old  fort  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  and  two  forts  on  the  east  side,  situated  on  two  eminences,  which  latter 
were  commenced  the  year  previous,  and  were  in  an  unfinished  state.  These  works  were 
very  weak,  and  the  walls  of  insufficient  strength  to  resist  heavy  artillery.  The  English 
relied  for  a  defence  upon  having  a  superior  naval  force  upon  the  lake.  Unfortunately,  the 
naval  armament  at  that  time  fitting  out  was  incomplete.  On  the  6th  of  August,  Colonel 
Mercer,  commanding  officer  of  the  garrison,  which  consisted  of  about  1,600  men,  having 
received  intelligence  of  a  large  encampment  of  French  and  Indians  about  twelve  miles 
distant,  despatched  a  schooner  with  an  account  of  it  to  Capt.  Broadley,  who  was  then  on  a 
cruise  with  a  large  brigantine  and  two  sloops,  at  the  same  time  desiring  him  to  sail  as  far 
eastward  as  he  could,  and  to  endeavor  to  prevent  the  approach  of  the  French  on  the  lake. 
The  next  day  a  violent  gale  of  wind  drove  the  brigantine  ashore  while  attempting  to  get 
into  the  harbor.  The  French  seized  this  opportunity  to  transport  their  heavy  cannon  within 
a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  fort,  which  he  would  not  have  been  enabled  to  have  done  had  it 
not  been  for  this  disaster.  On  the  morning  of  the  11th,  some  canoes  were  seen  to  the 
eastward,  and  the  schooner  was  sent  out  to  make  a  discovery  of  what  they  were ;  she  was 
scarce  half  a  mile  distant  before  she  hoisted  a  jack  at  mast  head,  fired  a  gun  to  leeward, 
and  stood  in  again  for  the  harbor,  and  brought  intelligence  that  they  had  discovered  a  very 
large  encampment,  close  round  the  opposite  point;  on  which  the  two  sloops,  (the  large 
brigantine  being  still  on  shore,)  were  sent  out  with  orders  if  possible  to  annoy  the  enemy. 
They  proceeded  to  within  gun-shot  of  the  enemy’s  camp,  when  they  were  fired  upon  from 
a  battery  of  four  twelve  pounders.  This  fire  was  briskly  returned  from  both  vessels,  but  to 
no  purpose,  as  their  shot  fell  short  of  the  shore,  and  the  enemy’s  cannon  being  large  and 
well  managed,  hulled  the  vessels  almost  every  shot.  After  firing  several  broadsides  the 
vessels  returned. 

“  The  same  day  the  French  invested  the  place  with  about  32  pieces  of  cannon,  from  12 
to  18  pounders,  besides  several  large  brass  mortars  and  hoyets,  (among  which  artillery  was 
included  that  taken  from  Gen.  Braddock,)  and  about  5,000  men.  About  noon  they  began 
the  attack  of  Fort  Ontario  with  small-arms,  which  was  briskly  returned  with  small-arms 
and  8  cannon  of  that  fort,  and  shells  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  The  garrison  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river  was  this  day  employed  in  repairing  the  battery  on  the  south  side 
of  the  old  fort.  That  night  the  enemy  were  engaged  in  approaching  Fort  Ontario,  and 
bringing  up  their  cannon  against  it.  On  the  12th,  the  enemy  renewed  their  fire  of  small- 
arms  on  Fort  Ontario,  which  was  briskly  returned.  The  garrison  on  the  west  side  were 
employed  as  the  day  previous. 

“  The  French  on  the  east  side  continued  their  approaches  to  Fort  Ontario.  Notwith¬ 
standing  the  continued  fire  upon  the  enemy  and  the  death  of  their  chief  engineer,  by  10 
o’clock  next  morning  they  opened  a  battery  of  cannon  within  60  yards  of  the  fort.  At  12 
o’clock,  Col.  Mercer  sent  the  garrison  word  to  destroy  their  cannon,  ammunition,  and  pro¬ 
visions,  and  to  evacuate  the  fort.  About  3  P.  M.,  the  garrison,  consisting  of  about  370  men, 
effected  their  retreat  to  the  west  side  of  the  river  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and  were  em¬ 
ployed  on  the  night  of  the  12th  in  completing  the  works  at  the  fort  at  the  West  hill.  On 
this  night  as  well  as  the  night  before,  parties  of  the  enemy’s  irregulars  made  several  unsuc. 
cessful  attempts  to  surprise  the  advanced  guards  and  sentries  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
On  the  night  of  the  13th,  the  enemy  were  employed  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  in  bringing 
up  their  cannon  and  raising  a  battery  against  the  old  fort.  A  constant  fire  was  kept  upon 
them  from  the  west  side.  The  cannon  which  most  annoyed  the  enemy  were  four  pieces, 
which  were  reversed  on  the  platform  of  an  earthen  work  which  surrounded  the  old  fort, 
and  which  was  entirely  enfiladed  by  the  enemy’s  battery  on  the  opposite  shore.  In  this 
situation,  without  the  least  cover,  the  train,  assisted  by  a  detachment  of  50  of  Shirley’s  regi. 
ment,  behaved  remarkably  well.  At  daybreak,  the  14th,  the  English  renewed  the  fire  of 
their  cannon  on  that  part  of  the  shore  where  they  had  the  evening  previous  observed  the 
enemy  erecting  a  battery.  This  was  returned  from  a  battery  of  ten  12  pounders.  About 


278 


OSWEGO  COUNTY. 


9  A.  M.,  2,500  of  the  enemy  crossed  the  river  in  three  columns.  At  this  time  Lieut  CcA 
Mercer  was  killed  by  a  cannon  ball.  About  10  o’clock,  the  enemy  had  in  readiness  a  bat. 
tery  of  mortars.  All  the  places  of  defence  were  either  enfiladed  or  ruined  by  the  constant 
fire  of  the  enemy’s  cannon  ;  2,500  French  and  Indians  were  in  the  rear  of  the  works  ready 
to  storm,  and  2,000  regulars  were  ready  to  land  in  front  under  cover  of  their  cannon.  At 
this  juncture,  Col.  Littlehales,  upon  whom  the  command  now  devolved,  called  a  council  of 
war,  who  were,  with  the  engineers,  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  works  were  no  longer 
tenable,  and  that  it  was  by  no  means  prudent  to  risk  a  storm  with  such  unequal  numbers. 
The  ‘  chamade’  was  accordingly  ordered  to  be  beat.  The  soldiers  throughout  the  siege 
showed  great  bravery,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  could  now  be  restrained  from  con¬ 
tinuing  their  resistance.  On  beating  the  ‘  chamade,'  the  firing  ceased  on  both  sides,  and 
two  officers  were  sent  to  the  French  general,  to  know  upon  what  terms  he  would  accept  a 
surrender.  Upon  which  Montcalm  replied,  that,  the  English  were  an  enemy  he  esteemed ; 
that  none  but  a  brave  nation  would  have  thought  of  defending  so  weak  a  place  so  long, 
against  such  a  strong  train  of  artillery  and  superior  numbers ;  that  they  might  expect  what¬ 
ever  terms  were  consistent  with  the  service  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty ;  he  accordingly 
sent  the  following  proposals,  viz : — • 

“  ‘The  Marquis  of  Moncalm,  army  and  field  marshal,  command.er-in-chief  of  His  Most 
Christian  Majesty’s  troops,  is  ready  to  receive  a  capitulation  upon  the  most  honorable  con¬ 
ditions,  surrendering  to  him  all  the  forts.  They  shall  be  shown  all  the  regard  the  politest 
nations  can  show  ;  I  send  an  aid-de-camp  on  my  part — viz,  Mons.  De  Bougainville,  captain 
of  dragoons ;  they  need  only  send  the  capitulation  to  be  signed ;  I  require  an  answer  by 
noon  ;  I  have  kept  Mr.  Drake  for  an  hostage.  Montcalm. 

Aug.  14,  1756.’  ” 

“The  terms  required  by  the  English  were  honorably  granted. 
The  victors  immediately  dismantled  tire  forts  and  carried  off  the  gar¬ 
rison,  121  pieces  of  cannon,  14  mortars,  great  quantities  of  ammuni¬ 
tion  and  warlike  stores,  two  sloops  of  war,  and  200  boats  and  bat- 
teaux.” 


West  view  of  Fort  Oswego. 


The  following  is  the  American  official  account  of  the  attack  upon 
this  place  during  the  late  war,  taken  from  a  newspaper  published  at 
the  time.  Copy  of  a  letter  from  Maj.  Gen.  Brown  to  the  secretary 
of  war,  dated 

•“  H.  Q.,  Sacketts  Harbor ,  May  12,  1814. 

“  Sir, — Enclosed  is  an  abstract  from  the  report  of  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell,  of  the  affair  at 
Oswego,  Being  well  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  the  colonel  executed  my  orders, 
and  with  the  evidence  given  of  steady  discipline  and  gallant  conduct  on  the  part  of  the 
troops,  I  have  noticed  them  in  the  general  order,  a  copy  of  which  is  enclosed. — The  ene¬ 
my’s  object  was  the  naval  and  military  stores  deposited  at  the  falls,  16  miles  in  the  rear  of 


OSWEGO  COUNTV. 


279 


the  fort.  These  were  protected.  The  stores  at  the  fort  and  village  were  not  important. 
[  am,  &c.  Jacob  Brown,  Maj.  Gen. 

“  Hon.  Secretary  at  War.” 

“  Report. — I  informed  you  of  my  arrival  at  Fort  Oswego  on  the  30th  ult.  This  post 
being  but  occasionally  and  not  recently  occupied  by  regular  troops,  was  in  a  bad  state  of 
defence.  Of  cannon,  we  had  but  five  old  guns,  three  of  which  had  lost  their  trunnions. 
What  could  be  done  in  the  way  of  repair  was  effected — new  platforms  were  laid,  the  gun 
carriages  put  in  order,  and  decayed  pickets  replaced.  On  the  5th  inst.  the  British  naval 
force,  consisting  of  4  large  ships,  3  brigs,  and  a  number  of  gun  and  other  boats  were  descried 
et  reveille — beating  about  7  miles  from  the  fort.  Information  was  immediately  given  to 
Capt.  Woolsey  of  the  navy  (who  was  at  Oswego  village)  and  to  the  neighboring  militia.  It 
being  doubtful  on  what  side  of  the  river  the  enemy  would  attempt  to  land,  and  my  force 
(290  effectives)  being  too  small  to  bear  division,  I  ordered  the  tents  in  store  to  be  pitched 
an  the  village  side,  while  I  occupied  the  other  with  my  whole  force.  It  is  probable  that 
this  artifice  had  its  effect  and  determined  the  enemy  to  attack  where  from  appearances  they 
expected  the  least  opposition.  About  1  o’clock,  the  fleet  approached.  Fifteen  boats,  large 
and  crowded  with  troops,  at  a  given  signal  moved  slowly  to  the  shore.  These  were  pre¬ 
ceded  by  gun-boats  sent  to  rake  the  woods  and  cover  the  landing,  while  the  larger  vessels 
opened  a  fire  upon  the  fort.  Capt.  Boyle  and  Lieut.  Legate,  (so  soon  as  the  debarking 
boats  got  within  the  range  of  our  shot,)  opened  upon  them  a  very  successful  fire  from  the 
shore  battery,  and  compelled  them  twice  to  retire.  They  at  length  returned  to  the  ships, 
and  the  whole  stood  off  from  the  shore  for  better  anchorage.  One  of  the  enemy’s  boats 
which  had  been  deserted,  was  taken  up  by  us,  and  some  others  by  the  militia.  The  first 
mentioned  was  60  feet  long,  and  carried  36  oars  and  3  sails,  and  could  accommodate  150 
men.  She  had  received  a  ball  through  her  bow,  and  was  nearly  filled  with  water. — Piquet 
guards  were  stationed  at  different  points,  as  we  lay  on  our  arms  during  the  night. — At  day¬ 
break  on  the  6th,  the  fleet  appeared  bearing  up  under  easy  sail.  The  Wolfe,  &c.,  took  a 
position  directly  against  the  fort  and  batteries,  and  for  3  hours  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  of 
grape,  &c.  Finding  that  the  enemy  had  effected  a  landing,  I  withdrew  my  small  disposa¬ 
ble  force  into  the  rear  of  the  fort,  and  with  two  companies  (Romayne’s  and  Melvin’s)  met 
their  advancing  columns,  while  the  other  companies  engaged  the  flanks  of  the  enemy. 
Lieut.  Pearce  of  the  navy,  and  some  seamen,  joined  in  the  attack,  and  fought  with  their 
characteristic  bravery.  We  maintained  our  ground  about  30  minutes,  and  as  long  as  con¬ 
sisted  with  my  further  duty  of  defending  the  public  stores  deposited  at  the  falls,  which  no 
doubt  formed  the  principal  object  of  the  expedition  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  Nor  was  this 
movement  made  precipitately.  I  halted  within  400  yards  of  the  fort.  Capt.  Romayne’s 
company  formed  the  rear-guard,  and  remaining  with  it,  I  marched  to  this  place  in  good 
order,  destroying  the  bridges  in  my  rear.  The  enemy  landed  600  of  De  Wattevilles  regi¬ 
ment,  600  marines,  two  companies  of  the  Glengary  corps,  and  350  seamen. — Gen.  Drum¬ 
mond  and  Com.  Yeo,  were  the  land  and  naval  commanders.  They  burned  the  old  bar¬ 
racks  and  evacuated  the  fort  about  3  o’clock  in  the  morning  of  the  7th. — Our  loss  in  killed 
is  6,  in  wounded  38,  and  in  missing  25.  That  of  the  enemy  is  much  greater.  Deserters 
and  citizens  of  ours  taken  prisoners  and  afterward  released,  state  their  killed  at  64,  and 
wounded  in  proportion — among  these  are  several  land  and  naval  officers  of  merit.* — I  can¬ 
not  close  this  despatch  without  speaking  of  the  dead  and  the  living  of  my  detachment. 
Lieut.  Blaney,  a  young  man  of  much  promise,  was  unfortunately  killed.  His  conduct  was 
highly  meritorious.  Capt.  Boyle  and  Lieut.  Legate  merit  my  highest  approbation,  and 
indeed  I  want  language  to  express  my  admiration  of  their  gallant  conduct.  The  subalterns, 
M.  Comb,  Ansart,  Ring,  Robb,  Earl,  McClintock,  and  Newkirk,  performed  well  their 
several  parts. — It  would  be  injustice  were  I  not  to  acknowledge  and  report  the  zeal  and 
patriotism  evinced  by  the  militia,  who  arrived  at  short  notice,  and  were  anxious  to  be 
useful. 

“  H.  Q.t  Sacketts  Harbor,  12  May,  1814. 

“  General  orders. — Maj.  Gen.  Brown  has  the  satisfaction  of  announcing  to  the  troops 
of  his  division,  that  the  detachment  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell  of  the  corps 


*  Commodore  Chauncey,  in  a  letter  about  this  date  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  states — 
“  The  enemy  has  paid  dearly  for  the  little  booty  he  obtained  at  Oswego.  From  the  best 
information  which  I  can  collect,  both  from  deserters  and  my  agents,  the  enemy  lost  70 
men  killed,  and  165  wounded,  drowned  and  missing — in  all  235 ;  nearly  as  many  as  were 
opposed  to  them.  Capt.  Mulcaster  is  certainly  mortally  wounded ;  a  captain  of  marines 
killed,  and  a  number  of  other  officers  killed  and  wounded.” 


280 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


of  artillery,  have  by  their  gallant  and  highly  military  conduct  on  the  5th  and  6th  inst., 
gained  a  name  in  arms  worthy  of  the  nation  they  serve  and  the  cause  they  support.  For 
nearly  two  days  they  maintained  an  unequal  contest  against  ten  times  their  number,  and 
but  yielded  their  post  when  the  interest  of  their  country  made  that  measure  necessary. 
The  companies  composing  this  gallant  detachment  were  Boyle’s,  Romayne’s,  Mclntire’s, 
and  Pierce’s,  of  the  heavy  artillery,  and  a  few  seamen  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Pearce  of  the  navy, — in  all  less  than  three  hundred  men.  The  enemy’s  force  by  land 
and  water  exceeded  three  thousand  men.” 

Pulaski  village,  half-shire  town,  was  incorporated  in  1833.  Cen¬ 
trally  situated  on  Salmon  river,  4  miles  from  its  confluence  with  Lake 
Ontario,  36  N.  of  Salina,  and  60  from  Utica.  The  river  at  this  place 
affords  considerable  water-power,  on  which  are  a  number  of  grist  and 
saw  mills,  and  several  manufacturing  establishments.  There  are 
about  80  dwellings,  a  number  of  churches,  a  courthouse  and  prison. 

Fulton,  incorporated  in  1835,  is  a  flourishing  place  at  the  Oswego 
Falls,  10  miles  from  Oswego.  It  has  4  churches,  an  academy,  about 
200  dwellings,  and  1,400  inhabitants.  The  centre  of  the  village  is 
half  a  mile  below,  or  north  of  the  Oswego  Falls,  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  Oswego  river,  at  a  point  where  a  dam  is  constructed  for  the  use  of 
the  Oswego  canal.  The  village  limits  extend  above  the  falls,  and  in¬ 
clude  the  state  reservation,  which  has  been  laid  out  as  a  village  and 
partly  sold,  called  “  Oswego  Falls.”  The  water-power  is  extensive, 
and  can  be  used  on  both  sides  of  the  river  at  the  dam,  and  also  at  the 
natural  falls.  The  fall  is  about  12  feet  at  each  place. 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 

Otsego  county  was  taken  from  Montgomery  in  1791.  Centrally 
distant  from  New  York  city  NW.  200,  and  from  Albany  W.  66  miles. 
Its  form  is  very  irregular.  Greatest  length  N.  and  S.  about  40  ;  great¬ 
est  breadth  E.  and  W.  35  miles. 

This  county  is  considerably  elevated,  though  there  are  no  distinct 
ranges  of  mountains  of  much  height.  A  larger  portion  of  the  soil  of 
the  county  is  rich  and  productive.  A  large  amount  of  capital  is  in¬ 
vested  in  agriculture  and  manufactures.  The  Susquehannah  river, 
rising  in  the  Otsego  lake,  flows  southerly  to  the  bounds  of  the  county ; 
then  turning  southwesterly,  forms  a  part  of  the  southern  boundary. 
The  Unadilla  bounds  the  county  on  the  west.  Otsego  lake,  9  miles 
long  and  from  1  to  3  wide,  and  Schuyler’s  lake,  5  miles  long  and  from 
1  to  2  wide,  are  beautiful  sheets  of  water.  The  hills  which  en¬ 
compass  Otsego  lake,  have  an  elevation  of  from  400  to  500  feet  above 
its  surface.  The  purity  of  its  waters,  and  the  rich  and  varied  scenery 
about  it,  render  it  attractive  to  the  lovers  of  natural  scenery.  Portions 
of  this  county  were  settled  as  early  as  1739.  The  mass  of  the 
settlers  were  emigrants  from  the  eastern  states.  The  county  is  di¬ 
vided  into  22  towns  : 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


281 


Burlington, 

Butternuts, 

Cherry  Valley, 

Decatur, 

Edmeston, 

Exeter, 


Hartwick, 

Laurens, 

Maryland, 

Middlefield, 

Milford, 

New  Lisbon, 


Oneonta, 

Otego, 

Otsego, 

Pittsfield, 

Plainfield, 

Richfield, 


Springfield, 

Unadilla, 

Westford, 

Worcester. 


Cooperstown,  the  county  seat,  distant  from  New  York  by  way  of 
Catskill  200  miles,  of  Albany  21 1  ;  from  Albany  66,  and  from  Utica, 
SE.,  36  miles,  is  beautifully  situated  at  the  southern  end  of  Otsego 
lake,  at  the  head  of  the  Susquehannah  river. 


Western  view  of  Cooperstown. 


The  site  of  the  present  village  is  said  to  have  been  a  favorite  place 
of  resort  with  the  savages  from  a  remote  period,  for  the  purpose  of 
hunting  and  fishing.  The  word  “  Otsego”  is  thought  to  be  a  com¬ 
pound  which  conveys  the  idea  of  a  spot  at  which  meetings  of  the  In¬ 
dians  were  held.  There  is  a  small  rock  near  the  outlet  of  the  lake, 
called  the  “  Otsego  Rock,”  at  which  precise  point  the  savages,  ac¬ 
cording  to  an  early  tradition,  were  accustomed  to  give  each  other 
the  rendezvous. 

“  It  should  also  be  stated,  that  the  present  site  of  Cooperstown  is  connected  with  an 
event  of  some  interest  that  occurred  during  the  war  of  the  revolution.  An  expedition 
having  been  commanded  to  proceed  under  the  orders  of  Major-general  Sullivan,  against 
the  Indians  who  then  dwelt  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Seneca  lake,  a  brigade  employed  in  the 
duty,  under  Brigadier-general  James  Clinton,  (the  father  of  the  celebrated  De  Witt  Clin¬ 
ton,)  marched  from  Albany  for  that  purpose.  After  ascending  the  Mohawk  as  far  as  Fort 
Plain,  this  brigade  cut  a  road  through  the  forest  to  the  head  of  Lake  Otsego,  whither  it 
transported  its  boats.  Traces  of  this  road  exist,  and  it  is  still  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Continental  Road.  Embarking  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  the  troops  descended  to  the  outlet, 

36 


282 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


where  they  encamped  on  the  site  of  the  present  village.  General  Clinton’s  quarters  are 
said  to  have  been  in  a  small  building  of  hewn  logs,  which  then  stood  in  what  are  now  the 
grounds  of  the  ‘  Hall,’  and  which  it  is  thought  was  erected  by  Col.  Croghan,  as  a  place  in 
which  he  might  hold  his  negotiations  with  the  Indians,  as  well  as  for  a  commencement  of 
a  settlement. 

“  This  building,  which  was  about  fifteen  feet  square  and  intended  for  a  sort  of  block, 
house,  was  undoubtedly  the  first  ever  erected  on  this  spot.  It  was  subsequently  used  by 
some  of  the  first  settlers  as  a  residence,  and  by  Judge  Cooper  as  a  smoke-house,  and  it  was 
standing  in  1797,  if  not  a  year  later.  It  was  then  taken  down,  and  removed  by  Henry 
Pace  Eaton  to  his  residence  on  the  road  to  Pier’s,  where  it  was  set  up  again  as  an  out¬ 
house. 

“  There  were  found  the  graves  of  two  white  men  in  the  same  grounds,  which  were  be¬ 
lieved  to  contain  the  bodies  of  deserters,  who  were  shot  during  the  time  the  troops  were 
here  encamped.  These  graves  are  supposed  to  he  the  first  of  any  civilized  man  in  the 
township  of  Otsego.  All  traces  of  them  have  now  disappeared. 

“  As  soon  as  encamped,  the  troops  of  Gen.  Clinton  commenced  the  construction  of  a 
dam  at  the  outlet,  and  when  the  water  had  risen  to  a  sufficient  height  in  the  lake,  the  ob¬ 
struction  was  removed,  the  current  clearing  the  bed  of  the  river  of  flood-wood.  After  a 
short  delay,  for  this  purpose,  the  troops  embarked  and  descended  as  far  as  the  junction 
with  the  Tioga,  where  they  were  met  by  another  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Sulli¬ 
van  in  person.  On  this  occasion,  the  Susquehannah,  below  the  dam,  was  said  to  be  so 
much  reduced  that  a  man  could  jump  across  it. 

“  Traces  of  the  dam  are  still  to  be  seen,  and  for  many  years  they  were  very  obvious. 
At  a  later  day,  in  digging  the  cellar  of  the  house  first  occupied  by  Judge  Cooper,  a  large 
iron  swivel  was  discovered,  which  was  said  to  have  been  buried  by  the  troops,  who  found 
it  useless  for  their  service.  This  swivel  was  the  only  piece  of  artillery  used  for  the  pur¬ 
poses  of  salutes  and  merry-making3  in  the  vicinity  of  Cooperstown,  for  ten  or  twelve  years 
after  the  settlement  of  the  place.  It  is  well  and  affectionately  remembered  by  the  name  of 
the  ‘  cricket,’  and  was  bursted  lately  in  the  same  good  cause  of  rejoicing  on  the  4th  of  July. 
At  the  time  of  its  final  disaster,  (for  it  had  met  with  many  vicissitudes  by  field  and  flood, 
having  actually  been  once  thrown  into  the  lake,)  it  is  said  there  was  no  very  perceptible 
difference  in  size  between  its  touch-hole  and  its  muzzle.” — Chronicles  of  Cooperstown. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  settle  Cooperstown  about  10  years  before 
the  revolution,  by  Mr.  John  Christopher  Hartwick,  which  however 
proved  abortive  ;  and  between  the  years  1761  and  1770,  Col.  Croghan 
with  his  family  resided  for  a  short  time  on  the  spot.  A  final  settle¬ 
ment  was  commenced  in  1786,  under  the  auspices  William  Cooper, 
Esq.,  from  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  who  purchased  the  tract  on 
which  the  village  now  stands.  The  regular  commencement  of  the 
village  dates  more  properly  from  1788,  as  at  this  time  it  was  regu¬ 
larly  laid  out.  At  the  formation  of  the  county,  in  1791,  Cooperstown 
was  designated  as  the  county  seflt,  Mr.  Cooper  being  appointed  the 
first  judge  of  the  county  court. 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  early  day,  the  following  anecdote  is  related  of  an  ex-officer 
of  the  French  army,  a  Monsieur  Ebbal,  who  kept  “  bachelor’s  hall”  on  the  western  bank  of 
the  lake.  “  Some  wags  told  Monsieur  Ebbal,  that  if  chased  by  a  bear,  the  most  certain 
mode  of  escape,  was  to  throw  away  his  hat,  or  his  coat,  to  induce  the  animal  to  stop  and 
smell  at  it,  and  then  to  profit  by  the  occasion,  and  climb  a  sapling  that  was  too  small  to 
enable  his  enemy  to  fasten  its  claws  in  it,  in  the  way  it  is  known  to  ascend  a  tree.  The 
advice  was  well  enough,  but  the  advised  having  actually  an  occasion  to  follow  it  the  suc¬ 
ceeding  autumn,  scrambled  up  a  sapling  first,  and  began  to  throw  away  his  clothes  after¬ 
ward.  The  bear,  a  she  one  with  cubs,  tore  to  pieces  garment  after  garment,  without  quit¬ 
ting  the  spot,  keeping  poor  Ebbal  treed,  throughout  a  cool  autumnal  night.” 

As  an  indication  of  the  intelligence  of  the  inhabitants,  a  newspaper, 
the  “Otsego  Herald,”  was  issued  here  as  early  as  1795.  The  first 
edifice  constructed  for  religious  worship  was  the  Presbyterian,  erected 
on  the  etist  side  of  West-street,  in  1805,  and  is  still  occupied  by  that 
denomination.  There  are  now  in  the  village  169  dwellings,  20  stores, 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


283 


42  shops,  14  offices,  5  churches,  2  weekly  newspaper  offices,  a  very 
extensive  book  publishing  establishment,  2  female  boarding  schools, 
and  a  bank.  Its  present  population  is  about  1,300.  The  private 
dwellings  of  this  place  are  many  of  them  substantial  structures  of 
stone  and  brick,  some  of  which  are  elegant.  The  society  is  refined 
and  intelligent.  This,  with  the  uncommon  beauty  of  the  surrounding 
scenery  and  healthiness  of  the  climate,  will  ere  long  render  it  a  sum¬ 
mer  resort  for  the  elite  of  our  large  cities. 

Cherry  Valley,  so  called  by  the  first  settlers  from  its  abundance 
of  wild  cherries,  was  taken  from  Canajoharie  in  1791.  Pop.  3,813. 
Cherry  Valley  village,  upon  the  Cherry  Valley  creek,  incorporated 
in  1812,  lies  13  miles  NE.  from  Cooperstown,  13  S.  from  the  canal 
at  Canajoharie,  and  53  from  Albany.  The  following  view  was  taken 
from  the  residence  of  Joseph  Phelon,  Esq.  The  Presbyterian  church 


Southwest  view  of  Cherry  Valley. 

is  seen  on  the  left,  and  the  Episcopal  and  Methodist  churches  on  the 
right.  There  is  here  a  bank,  a  weekly  newspaper  office,  an  incor¬ 
porated  academy,  and  about  130  dwellings.  The  following  interest¬ 
ing  account  of  the  first  settlement  of  this  place  is  from  the  valuable 
work  of  Wm.  W.  Campbell,  Esq.,  entitled  “  Annals  of  Tryon  County.” 

“  Mr.  Lindesay,  having;  obtained  an  assignment  from  the  three  other  patentees  to  himself 
and  Gov.  Glark,  in  1739  caused  the  patent  to  be  surveyed  and  subdivided  into  lots,  and 
chose  for  himself  the  farm  afterward  successively  owned  by  Mr.  John  Wells  and  Judge 
Hudson,  and  gave  to  it  the  name  of  Lindesay’s  Bush.  In  the  following  summer  he  left 
New  Yqrk  with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  father-in-law,  Mr.  Congreve,  a  lieu¬ 
tenant  in  the  British  army,  and  a  few  domestics,  and  settled  upon  his  farm.  He  was  a 
Scotch  gentleman  of  some  fortune  and  distinction,  having  held  several  offices  under  govern¬ 
ment,  and  anticipated  much  pleasure  from  a  residence  in  this  high  and  rolling  country, 
whose  valleys  and  hills,  and  lakes,  would  constantly  remind  him  of  the  wild  and  romantic 
scenery  of  his  native  land.  A  luxuriant  growth  of  beech  and  maple,  interspersed  with  the 
wild  cherry,  covered  the  valley,  and  extended  along  up  the  6ides  of  the  hills,  whose  tops 
were  crowded  with  clusters  of  evergreen  ;  elk  and  deer  were  found  here  in  great  numbers, 
as  were  bears,  wolves,  beavers,  and  foxes ;  it  was  a  favorite  hunting  ground  of  the  Mo¬ 
hawks,  who  erected  their  cabins  near  some  little  spring,  and  hunted  their  game  upon  the 


284 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


mountains.  Mr.  Lindesay,  as  well  as  all  the  early  settlers,  found  it  important  to  cultivate 
their  friendship  ;  he  received  them  into  his  house,  and  treated  them  with  such  hospitality  as 
circumstances  would  permit:  this  kindness  was  not  lost  upon  the  high-minded  savages,  one 
of  whom  gave  proof  of  no  ordinary  friendship  during  the  first  winter  after  his  removal  to 
Lindesay’s  Bush.  Whatever  of  happiness  and  independence  Mr.  Lindesay  may  have  looked 
forward  to,  he  knew  little  of  the  privations  of  the  settlers  of  a  new  country,  especially  such 
a  country  as  he  had  selected;  his  farm  was  15  miles  from  any  settlement,  difficult  of  access 
from  that  settlement,  which  was  on  the  Mohawk  river,  by  reason  of  its  elevation  above  it ; 
and  the  intervening  country  was  traversed  only  by  an  Indian  footpath. 

“ In  the  winter  of  1740,  the  snow  fell  to  a  great  depth;  the  paths  were  filled  up;  all 
communication  with  the  settlers  upon  the  Mohawk  was  stopped ;  Mr.  Lindesay  had  not 
made  sufficient  preparation  for  such  a  winter;  he  had  but  a  scanty  supply  of  provisions; 
these  were  almost  consumed  long  before  spring :  a  wretched  and  lingering  death  was  in 
prospect  for  him  and  his  family.  At  this  critical  time,  an  Indian  came  to  his  house,  having 
travelled  upon  the  snow  with  snow-shoes ;  when  informed  of  their  situation,  he  readily 
undertook  to  relieve  them  ;  he  went  to  the  settlements  upon  the  Mohawk,  and  having  pro. 
cured  provisions,  returned  with  them  upon  his  back,  and  during  the  remainder  of  the  win. 
ter,  this  faithful  child  of  the  forest  thus  continued  to  relieve  them,  and  thus  preserved  the 
lives  of  the  first  inhabitants  of  our  town  and  county. 

“In  New  York,  Mr.  Lindesay  became  acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dunlop,  and 
prevailed  upon  him  to  visit  his  patent,  offering  him  a  tract  of  land  of  several  hundred  acres, 
on  condition  that  he  would  settle  upon  it,  and  would  use  his  influence  with  his  friends,  and 
persuade  them  to  accompany  him.  Pleased  with  the  situation,  and  the  generous  proprietor 
of  the  patent,  he  accepted  of  the  proposal ;  he  was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  but  had  been 
educated  in  Edinburgh ;  had  spent  several  years  in  the  provinces,  having  travelled  over 
most  of  those  at  the  south ;  and  at  the  time  of  his  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Lindesay, 
was  on  a  tour  through  those  at  the  north.  He  went  to  Londonderry,  in  New  Hampshire, 
where  several  of  his  countrymen  were  settled,  whom  he  persuaded  to  remove,  and  in  1741, 
David  Ramsay,  William  Gallt,  James  Campbell,  William  Dickson,  and  one  or  two  others, 
with  their  families,  in  all  about  30  persons,  came  and  purchased  farms,  and  immediately 
commenced  making  improvements  upon  them.  They  had  emigrated  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  several  years  anterior  to  their  removal  here ;  some  of  them  were  originally  from 
Scotland;  they  were  called  Scotch  Irish — a  general  name  given  to  the  inhabitants" of  the 
north  of  Ireland,  many  of  whom  are  of  Scotch  descent ;  hardy  and  industrious,  inured  to 
toil  from  their  infancy,  they  were  well  calculated  to  sustain  the  labors  necessary  in  clearing 
the  forest,  and  fitting  it  for  the  abode  of  civilized  man. 

“  The  following  circumstance  gave  rise  to  its  name.  Mr.  Dunlop,  engaged  in  writing 
some  letters,  inquired  of  Mr.  Lindesay  where  he  should  date  them,  who  proposed  the  name 
of  a  town  in  Scotland  ;  Mr.  Dunlop,  pointing  to  some  fine  wild  cherry-trees,  and  to  the 
valley,  replied,  ‘Let  us  give  our  place  an  appropriate  name,  and  call  it  Cherry  Valley,’ 
which  was  readily  agreed  to  ;  it  was  for  a  long  time  the  distinguishing  name  of  a  large 
section  of  country,  south  and  west.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  these  settlers,  measures  were 
taken  for  the  erection  of  a  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  and  a  building  for  a  school-house  and 
church.  Mr.  Dunlop  left  Ireland  under  an  engagement  of  marriage  with  a  young  lady  of 
that  country,  and  having  made  the  necessary  arrangements  for  his  future  residence  in  Cherry 
Valley,  returned  to  fulfil  it.  This  engagement  was  conditional ;  if  he  did  not  return  in 
seven  years  from  the  time  of  his  departure,  it  should  be  optional  with  her  to  abide  by  or  put 
an  end  to  the  contract ;  the  time  had  almost  expired ;  she  had  heard  nothing  from  him  for 
some  time,  and  supposed  him  either  dead  or  unfaithful;  another  offered,  was  accepted,  and 
the  day  appointed  for  the  marriage.  In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Dunlop  had  been  driven  off  the 
coast  of  Scotland  by  a  storm :  after  a  detention  of  several  days,  he  finally  made  port  in 
Ireland,  and  hastening  on  his  journey,  arrived  the  day  previous  ,  his  arrival  was  as  joyful 
as  it  was  unexpected  ;  he  was  married,  and  returned  immediately  with  his  wife  to  Cherry 
Valley,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  as  the  first  pastor  of  its  little  church.  A  log-house  had 
been  erected  to  the  north  of  Mr.  Lindesay’s,  on  the  declivity  of  the  little  hill  upon  which  his 
house  was  situated ;  where,  though  possessing  little  of  this  world’s  wealth,  they  offered  up 
the  homage  of  devout  and  grateful  hearts.  Most  of  the  adult  inhabitants  were  members  of 
the  church ;  the  clergyman  was  to  receive  ten  shillings  on  the  hundred  acres  of  land ;  a 
mere  pittance,  by  reasqn  of  the  small  number  of  inhabitants;  but  he  lived  frugally  ;  they 
made  presents  to  him  of  the  productions  of  their  farms,  which,  with  the  avails  of  his  own, 
afforded  him  a  competent  support.  In  these  early  days,  an  excellent  state  of  feeling  towards 
each  other  prevailed;  common  danger,  and  common  interest,  united  them.  In  their  wor. 
ship  and  observances  they  were  very  strict.  During  the  ten  subsequent  years,  not  more 
than  three  or  four  families  had  come  into  the  settlement.  Among  them  was  Mr.  John 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


285 


Wells,  grandfather  of  the  late  John  Wells  of  New  York  city.  He  also  was  an  Irishman, 
and  became  a  resident  in  1743,  and  in  ’44  purchased  the  farm,  which  Mr.  Lindesay  had 
selected  for  himself,  and  upon  which  he  resided. 

“  Mr.  Lindesay  was  unacquainted  with  practical  farming,  and  his  property  had  been  ex. 
pended  to  little  advantage ;  after  struggling  several  years,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon 
his  enterprise.  The  war  between  France  and  Great  Britain  had  been,  in  part,  transferred 
to  America,  and  in  1744,  our  northern  frontier  was  threatened  with  an  attack  by  the  French 
and  Indians.  Reinforcements  were  ordered  to  Oswego,  and  among  them,  the  company  of 
Independent  Greens,  in  which  Mr.  Congreve  was  a  lieutenant ;  he  resigned  his  commission 
in  favor  of  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Lindesay,  who,  having  spent  several  years  in  the  service, 
died  in  New  York,  leaving  no  children.  Mr.  Wells,  a  man  of  amiable  disposition,  and  of 
great  integrity,  before  there  was  any  officer  of  justice,  was  frequently  appealed  to  as  the 
arbiter  of  any  little  difference  ;  he  was  afterward  appointed  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  for 
the  town,  and  one  of  the  judges  of  Tryon  county,  which  offices  he  continued  to  exercise 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  a  little  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolution. 

“  Mr.  Dunlop,  having  received  a  classical  education,  opened  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  boys,  who  came  from  the  settlements  upon  the  Mohawk,  and  from  Schenectady  and 
Albany.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  this  was  the  first  grammar  school  in  the  state  west 
of  Albany.  The  boys  were  received  into  his  house,  and  constituted  a  part  of  his  family. 
The  extreme  simplicity  of  the  times  may  be  learned  from  the  fact,  that  they  often  went  into 
the  fields,  and  there  recited  their  lessons  as  they  followed  their  instructor  about,  while  en¬ 
gaged  in  his  usual  avocations  upon  his  farm ;  several  individuals  along  the  Mohawk,  who 
were  afterward  conspicuous  in  the  revolution,  thus  received  the  first  rudiments  of  their 
education.” 

On  the  11th  of  Nov.,  1778,  the  Indians  and  tories,  about  700  in 
number,  under  the  command  of  Joseph  Brant  and  Walter  Butler,  made 
a  descent  upon  this  beautiful  valley,  laid  the  settlement  in  ashes,  and 
massacred  32  of  the  inhabitants,  mostly  women  and  children.  During 
the  day  they  made  several  attacks  on  the  fort,  but  without  success. 
The  following  is  extracted  from  the  “  Annals  of  Tryon  county.” 

“  The  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  had  left  in  the  summer,  in  consequence  of  the  repeated 
attacks  of  the  Indians  upon  the  frontiers,  had  now  returned  to  their  homes,  thinking  the 
season  so  far  advanced,  that  no  danger  need  be  apprehended.  On  the  information  above 
being  given  to  Col.  Alden,  they  requested  permission  to  remove  into  the  fort,  or  at  least  to 
deposit  their  most  valuable  property  there.  Both  requests  were  denied  by  Col.  Alden.  He 
replied,  that  it  would  be  a  temptation  to  his  soldiers  to  plunder ;  that  the  report  was  proba. 
bly  unfounded ;  that  it  was  only  an  Indian  story,  and  that  he  would  keep  out  scouts,  who 
would  apprise  them  in  season  to  secure  themselves,  in  case  of  real  danger.  Scouts  were 
accordingly  sent  out,  to  traverse  the  country  in  every  direction.  The  scout  sent  down  the 
Susquehannah  kindled  up  a  fire  on  the  night  of  the  9  th,  and  all  very  foolishly  lay  down  to 
sleep.  The  fire  was  discovered  by  the  enemy,  and  a  little  before  daylight  on  the  morning 
of  the  10th,  they  were  all  surrounded  and  taken. 

“On  the  night  of  the  10th,  the  enemy  encamped  on  the  top  of  a  hill  thickly  covered  with 
evergreens,  about  a  mile  southwest  from  the  fort.  On  the  morning  of  the  11th,  the  enemy 
moved  from  his  encampment  towards  the  fort.  They  had  learned  from  the  scout  which 
they  had  taken,  that  the  officers  of  the  garrison  lodged  in  different  private  houses  out  of  the 
fort ;  their  forces  were  so  disposed  that  a  party  should  surround  every  house  in  which  an 
officer  lodged  nearly  at  the  same  time,  while  the  main  body  would  attack  the  fort.  During 
the  night  the  snow  fell  several  inches.  In  the  morning  it  turned  to  rain,  and  the  atmos¬ 
phere  was  thick  and  hazy.  The  whole  settlement  thought  themselves  secure.  The  assur¬ 
ances  of  Col.  Alden  had  in  a  considerable  degree  quieted  their  fears.  Every  thing  favored 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  undiscovered.  Col.  Alden  and  Lieut.  Col.  Stacia,  with  a  small 
guard,  lodged  at  Mr.  Wells’s.  A  Mr.  Hamble  was  coming  up  that  morning  from  his  house 
several  miles  below,  on  horseback;  when  a  short  distance  from  Mr.  Wells’s  house  he  was 
fired  upon  and  wounded  by  the  Indians.  He  rode  in  great  haste  to  inform  Col.  Alden  of 
their  approach,  and  then  hastened  to  the  fort.  Still  incredulous,  and  believing  them  to  be 
only  a  straggling  party,  he  ordered  the  guard  to  be  called  in.  The  delay  of  a  few  minutes 
gave  the  Indians  time  to  arrive.  The  rangers  had  stopped  to  examine  their  firelocks,  the 
powder  in  which  having  been  wet  with  the  rain.  The  Indians  improving  this  opportunity, 
rushed  by.  The  advance  body  was  composed  principally  of  Senecas,  at  that  time  the  wild¬ 
est  and  most  ferocious  of  the  Six  Nations.  Col.  Alden  made  his  escape  from  the  house, 


286 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


and  was  pursued  down  the  hill,  towards  the  fort,  by  an  Indian ;  when  challenged  to  surren¬ 
der,  he  peremptorily  refused  so  to  do  ;  several  times  he  turned  round  and  snapped  his  pistol 
at  the  Indian ;  the  latter,  after  pursuing  some  distance,  threw  his  tomahawk,  and  struck 
him  on  the  head,  and  then  rushing  up,  scalped  him.  He  thus  ‘  was  one  of  the  first  victims 
of  this  most  criminal  neglect  of  duty.’  Lieut.  Col.  Stacia  was  taken  prisoner.  The  guard 
were  all  killed  or  taken. 

“  The  Senecas,  who  first  arrived  at  the  house,  with  some  tories,  commenced  an  indis¬ 
criminate  massacre  of  the  family,  and  before  the  rangers  arrived,  had  barbarously  murdered 
them  all,  including  Robert  Wells,  his  mother,  and  wife,  and  four  children,  his  brother  and 
sister,  John  and  Jane,  with  three  domestics.  Of  this  interesting  and  excellent  family,  not 
one  escaped,  except  the  late  John  Wells  of  New  York  city.  His  father  had  left  him  in 
Schenectady  the  previous  summer  with  an  aunt,  that  he  might  attend  the  grammar-school 
there.  He  might  almost  have  exclaimed  with  Logan,  that  not  a  drop  of  his  blood  ran  in 
the  veins  of  any  human  being ;  or  as  it  has  been  beautifully  expressed  by  an  eminent  Eng¬ 
lish  poet, 

“  They  ‘  left  of  all  my  tribe 
Nor  man,  nor  child,  nor  thing  of  living  birth, 

No !  not  the  dog  that  watched  my  household  hearth 
Escaped, — that  ‘  morn’  of  blood  upon  our  plains 
All  perished  !  I  alone  am  left  on  earth ! 

To  whom  nor  relative  nor  blood  remains, 

No  !  not  a  kindred  drop  that  runs  in  human  veins.’ 

“  A  tory  boasted  that  he  killed  Mr.  Wells  while  at  prayer.  The  melancholy  fate  of 
Jane  Wells  deserves  a  more  particular  notice.  ’She  was  a  young  lady,  not  distinguished 
for  her  personal  beauty,  but  endeared  to  her  friends  by  her  amiable  disposition,  and  her 
Christian  charities.  One  4  in  whom  the  friendless  found  a  friend,’  and  to  whom  the  poor 
would  always  say,  4  God  speed  thee.’  She  fled  from  the  house  to  a  pile  of  wood  near  by, 
behind  which  she  endeavored  to  screen  herself.  Here  she  was  pursued  by  an  Indian,  who, 
as  he  approached,  deliberately  wiped  his  bloody  knife  upon  his  leggins,  and  then  placed  it 
in  its  sheath  :  then  drawing  his  tomahawk,  he  seized  her  by  the  arm  ;  she  possessed  some 
knowledge  of  the  Indian  language,  and  remonstrated  and  supplicated,  though  in  vain. 
Peter  Smith,  a  tory,  who  had  formerly  been  a  domestic  in  Mr.  Wells’s  family,  now  inter¬ 
posed,  saying  she  was  his  sister,  and  desiring  him  to  spare  her  life.  He  shook  his  toma¬ 
hawk  at  him  in  defiance,  and  then  turning  round,  with  one  blow  smote  her  to  the  earth. 
John  Wells,  Esq.,  at  this  time  deceased,  and  the  father  of  Robert  Wells,  had  been  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  courts  of  Tryon  county;  in  that  capacity,  and  as  one  of  the  justices  of  the 
quorum,  he  had  been  on  intimate  terms  with  Sir  William  Johnson  and  family,  who  fre¬ 
quently  visited  at  his  house,  and  also  with  Col.  John  Butler,  likewise  a  judge.  The  family 
were  not  active  either  for  or  against  the  country ;  they  wished  to  remain  neutral,  so  far  as 
they  could,  in  such  turbulent  times ;  they  always  performed  military  duty,  when  called  out 
to  defend  the  country.  Col.  John  Butler,  in  a  conversation  relative  to  them,  remarked — 4 1 
would  have  gone  miles  on  my  hands  and  knees  to  have  saved  that  family,  and  why  my  son 
did  not  do  it,  God  only  knows.’ 

44  Another  party  of  Indians  surrounded  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dunlop,  whom  we 
have  frequently  had  occasion  to  mention,  as  the  pioneer  in  education  in  western  New 
York.  His  wife  was  immediately  killed.  The  old  gentleman  and  his  daughter  were  pre¬ 
served  by  Little  Aaron,  a  chief  of  the  Oquago  branch  of  the  Mohawks.  Mrs.  Wells  was 
also  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Dunlop;  Little  Aaron  led  him  out  from  the  house,  tottering  with 
age,  and  stood  beside  him  to  protect  him.  An  Indian  passing  by,  pulled  his  hat  from  his 
head,  and  ran  away  with  it;  the  chief  pursued  him,  and  regained  it;  on  his  return,  another 
Indian  had  carried  away  his  wig  :  the  rain  was  falling  upon  his  bare  head,  while  his  whole 
system  shook  like  an  aspen,  under  the  combined  influence  of  age,  fear,  and  cold.  He  was 
released  a  few  days  after;  but  the  shock  was  too  violent;  he  died  about  a  year  after:  his 
death  was  hastened  by  his  misfortunes,  though  he  could  have  borne  up  but  a  few  years 
longer  under  the  increasing  infirmities  of  old  age. 

44  A  Mr.  Mitchell,  who  was  in  his  field,  beheld  a  party  of  Indians  approaching ;  he  could 
not  gain  his  house,  and  was  obliged  to  flee  to  the  woods.  Here  he  evaded  pursuit  and 
escaped.  A  melancholy  spectacle  presented  itself  on  his  return — it  was  the  corpses  of  his 
wife  and  four  children.  His  house  had  been  plundered  and  set  on  fire.  He  extinguished 
the  fire,  and  by  examination  found  life  still  existing  in  one  of  his  children,  a  little  girl  ten 
or  twelve  years  of  age.  He  raised  her  up  and  placed  her  in  the  door,  and  was  bending 
over  her  when  he  saw  another  party  approaching.  He  had  barely  time  to  hide  himself 
behind  a  log-fence  near  by,  before  they  were  at  the  house.  From  this  hiding-place,  he 


PUTNAM  COUNTY. 


287 


beheld  an  infamous  tory  by  the  name  of  Newbury,  extinguish  the  little  spark  of  life  which 
remained  in  his  child,  with  a  blow  of  his  hatchet.  The  next  day,  without  a  single  human 
being  to  assist  him,  he  carried  the  remains  of  his  family  down  to  the  fort  on  a  sled,  and 
there  the  soldiers  aided  him  in  depositing  them  in  a  common  grave.  Retributive  justice 
sometimes  follows  close  upon  the  heels  of  crime.  This  tory  was  arrested,  as  a  spy,  the 
following  summer,  by  order  of  Gen.  James  Clinton,  when  he  lay  with  his  army  at  Canajo- 
harie,  on  the  Mohawk  river.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  called  to  prove  this  act.  He  was  found 
guilty  by  a  court-martial,  and  with  a  companion,  suffered  an  ignominious  death. 

“  The  party  which  surrounded  the  house  of  Col.  Campbell,  took  Mrs.  Campbell  and  four 
children  prisoners.  Mr.  Campbell  was  absent  from  home,  but  hastened  there  on  the  first 
alarm,  which  was  a  cannon  fired  at  the  fort.  He  arrived  only  in  time  to  witness  the  de¬ 
struction  of  his  property,  and  not  even  to  learn  the  fate  of  his  family  ;  their  lives  were 
spared,  but  spared  for  a  long  and  dreadful  captivity. 

“  Many  others  were  killed  ;  some  few  escaped  to  the  Mohawk  river,  and  the  remainder 
were  made  prisoners.  Thirty-two  of  the  inhabitants,  principally  women  and  children,  were 
killed,  and  sixteen  continental  soldiers.  The  terror  of  the  scene  was  increased  by  the  con¬ 
flagration  of  all  the  houses  and  out-houses  in  the  settlement ;  the  barns  were  many  of  them 
filled  with  hay  and  grain.  He  who  fled  to  the  mountains,  saw  as  he  looked  back  the  de¬ 
struction  of  his  home,  and  of  that  little  all  which  he  had  labored  for  years  to  accumulate. 

“ .  The  whole  settlement  exhibited  an  aspect  of  entire  and  complete  desolation.  The 
cocks  crew  from  the  tops  of  the  forest  trees,  and  the  dogs  howled  through  the  fields  and 
woods.  The  inhabitants  who  escaped,  with  the  prisoners  who  were  set  at  liberty,  aban¬ 
doned  the  settlement.” 


PUTNAM  COUNTY. 

Putnam  county  was  taken  from  Dutchess  in  1812  ;  greatest  length 
21,  greatest  breadth  12  miles.  The  Highlands  extend  across  the 
western  part.  The  highest  point  is  about  1,580  feet  above  the  Hud¬ 
son.  The  remainder  of  the  county,  though  generally  uneven,  has 
some  handsome  plains,  with  a  soil  various,  and  some  of  it  fertile. 
The  mountains  abound  with  iron  ore  of  good  quality.  Butter,  beef, 
wool,  calves,  lambs,  sheep,  fowls,  and  the  many  other  species  of 
“  marketing,”  are  produced  here  in  great  quantities  for  the  New  York 
market,  and  their  returns  are  rapidly  enriching  the  producer.  The 
evidences  of  prosperity  are  everywhere  visible.  Within  a  few  years 
the  lands  have  doubled  in  value  and  price.  The  county  is  watered 
easterly  and  centrally  by  the  main  branches  of  the  Croton.  It  is  di¬ 
vided  into  six  towns,  viz. : 

Carmel,  Paterson,  Putnam  Valley, 

Kent,  Philipstown,  South  East. 

Carmel,  the  county  seat,  is  106  miles  S.  from  Albany,  contains  the 
county  buildings,  2  churches,  an  academy,  and  about  40  dwellings. 
The  village  of  Cold  Spring,  20  miles  W.  of  Carmel,  and  about  a  mile 
above  West  Point,  contains  about  170  dwellings  and  5  churches. 

The  West  Point  foundry  is  situated  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
SE.  from  the  village  of  Cold  Spring.  It  was  established  in  1816, 
and  is  at  present  the  largest  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  Union. 

The  establishment  employs  400  men,  and  is  divided  into  the  following  branches,  with  a 
foreman  at  the  head  of  each  branch,  viz. :  an  iron  foundry,  a  brass  foundry,  pattern,  smiths’, 


288 


PUTNAM  COUNTY. 


machine,  and  boiler  shops.  There  are  attached  to  the  foundry,  3  air  furnaces,  3  cupolas. 
In  the  smiths’  shop  there  is  1  trip-hammer  of  seven  tons  weight,  and  2  tilt-hammers, — one 
of  1,000,  and  the  other  of  500  lbs.  Shafts  of  19  inches  diameter  have  been  forged  here, 
weighing  12  tons,  and  they  are  prepared  to  forge  shafts  of  2  feet  diameter.  The  machine 
shop  contains  28  turning  lathes,  and  3  planing  machines  for  iron.  The  consumption  of  the 
principal  materials  was  as  follows  during  the  year  1840.  Pig  iron,  $140,000 ;  coal, 
$33,000;  bar  iron,  $29,000;  boiler  iron  plate,  $14,500;  copper,  $44,640;  total  $261,140. 
The  principal  articles  manufactured  during  that  time  were  water  pipes  for  the  Croton  water 
works;  steam  engines  and  sugar  mills  for  the  West  Indies;  steam  engines  and  cotton 
presses  for  the  southern  states ;  flour  mill,  with  2  water  wheels  and  8  run  of  burr  stones,  for 
Austria ;  flour  mill  and  3  run  of  stones  for  Halifax,  N.  B. ;  engines,  boilers,  &c.,  for  tho 
steam  frigate  Missouri;  heavy  wrought  iron  work  for  the  steam  frigate  Mississippi.  Steam 
engines  and  boilers,  both  high  and  low  pressure,  are  manufactured  likewise ;  flour,  rice, 
sugar,  oil,  and  saw-mills,  sugar  kettles,  cotton  presses,  hydrostatic  cylinders,  brass  and  iron 
cannon,  bells,  shot  and  shells,  heavy  and  light  forged  work  ;  castings  of  all  sizes,  either  of 
composition  or  iron. 


The  Robinson  House . 


This  dwelling,  named  after  the  unfortunate  owner,  Col.  Beverly 
Robinson,  is  romantically  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson, 
about  two  miles  below  West  Point,  near  the  base  of  the  “Sugar 
Loaf,”  one  of  the  lofty  peaks  of  the  Highlands.  Dr.  Dwight,  who 
in  the  year  17,78  spent  several  months  at  West  Point,  has  given  the 
annexed  account  of  this  dwelling  and  its  original  possessor. 

“  A  part  of  this  time  I  resided  at  the  head-quarters  of  General  Putnam,  then  command¬ 
ing  at  this  post ;  and  afterward  of  General  Parsons,  who  succeeded  him  in  the  command. 
These  gentlemen  lodged  in  the  house  of  Col.  Beverly  Robinson ;  a  respectable  native  of 
Scotland,  who  married  a  lady  of  the  Phillips  family,  one  of  the  wealthiest,  and  most  re¬ 
spectable  of  the  province  of  New  York.  With  this  lady  Col.  Robinson  acquired  a  large 
landed  estate  lying  in  Phillipstown,  Fredericktown,  and  Franklin,  as  they  are  now  called; 
and  for  the  more  convenient  management  of  it  planted  himself  in  this  spot.  Here  he  had  a 
spacious  and  convenient  mansion,  surrounded  by  valuable  gardens,  fields,  and  orchards, 
yielding  every  thing  which  will  grow  in  this  climate.  The  rents  of  his  estate  were  suffi¬ 
cient  to  make  life  as  agreeable  as  from  this  source  it  can  be.  Mrs.  Robinson  was  a  fine 
woman ;  and  their  children  promised  every  thing  which  can  be  expected  from  a  very  hope¬ 
ful  family.  His  immediate  friends  were,  at  the  same  time,  persons  of  the  first  consequence 
in  the  province. 

“  When  the  revolutionary  war  broke  out,  Col.  Robinson  was  induced,  contrary  as  I  have 
been  informed  to  his  own  judgment  and  inclination,  by  the  importunity  of  some  of  his  con¬ 
nections  to  take  the  British  side  of  the  question.  To  him  it  appeared  wiser  and  safer  to 
act  a  neutral  part,  and  remain  quietly  on  his  estate.  The  pressure,  however,  from  various 
sources  was  so  strong  against  him,  that  he  finally  yielded,  and  carried  his  family  with  him 
to  New  York,  and  thence  to  Great  Britain.  His  property  was  confiscated  by  the  legisla- 


PUTNAM  COUNTY. 


289 


ture  of  New  York,  and  his  family  banished  from  their  native  country.  It  was  impossible 
for  any  person,  who  finds  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  fellow-men,  and  particularly  while 
residing  in  the  very  mansion  where  they  had  so  lately  enjoyed  all  which  this  world  can 
give,  not  to  feel  deeply  the  misfortunes  of  this  family.  Few  events  in  human  life  strike  the 
mind  more  painfully  than  banishment;  a  calamity  sufficiently  disastrous  in  the  most 
ordinary  circumstances,  but  peculiarly  affecting  when  the  banished  are  brought  before  us 
in  the  narrow  circle  of  a  family ;  a  circle,  the  whole  of  which  the  eye  can  see,  and  whose 
sufferings  the  heart  can  perfectly  realize.  Peculiarly  is  this  true,  when  the  family  in  ques¬ 
tion  is  enlightened,  polished,  amply  possessed  of  enjoyments,  tasting  them  with  moderation, 
and  sharing  them  cheerfully  with  their  friends  and  neighbors,  the  stranger  and  the  poor.” 

When  Arnold  had  obtained  the  command  of  West  Point  in  Aug., 
1780,  he  established  his  head-quarters  at  “Beverly,”  where  was  me¬ 
ditated  that  act  of  treachery  which  has  stamped  his  memory  with 
everlasting  infamy.  At  the  time  the  news  of  the  capture  of  Andre 
wras  received  by  Arnold,  General  Washington  and  his  officers,  together 
with  the  traitor,  were  seated  at  breakfast,  in  the  lower  room,  to  the 
left  of  the  small  tree  seen  near  the  centre  of  the  engraving. 

The  annexed,  from  the  pen  of  a  late  visiter,  is  extracted  from  the 
Knickerbocker  for  Sept.,  1840. 

“  The  commander-in-chief,  at  the  time  of  the  capture,  was  on  his  way  from  Hartford,  and 
changing  the  route  which  he  had  first  proposed,  came  by  the  way  of  West  Point.  At 
Fishkill  he  met  the  French  minister,  M.  de  la  Luzerne,  who  had  been  to  visit  Count 
Rochambeau  at  Newport,  and  he  remained  that  night  with  the  minister.  Very  early  next 
morning  he  sent  off  his  luggage,  with  orders  to  the  men  to  go  with  it  as  quickly  as  possible 
to  ‘  Beverly,’  and  give  Mrs.  Arnold  notice  that  he  would  be  there  at  breakfast.  When  the 
general  and  his  suite  arrived  opposite  West  Point,  he  was  observed  to  turn  his  horse  into 
a  narrow  road  that  led  to  the  river.  La  Fayette  remarked,  4  General,  you  are  going  in  a 
wrong  direction  ;  you  know  Mrs.  Arnold  is  waiting  breakfast  for  us.’  Washington  good- 
naturedly  remarked :  4  Ah,  I  know  you  young  men  are  all  in  love  with  Mrs.  Arnold,  and 
wish  to  get  where  she  is  as  soon  as  possible.  You  may  go  and  take  your  breakfast  with 
her,  and  tell  her  not  to  wait  for  me  :  I  must  ride  down  and  examine  the  redoubts  on  this 
side  of  the  river.’  The  officers,  however,  with  the  exception  of  two  of  the  aids,  remained. 
When  the  aids  arrived  at 4  Beverly,’*  they  found  the  family  waiting ;  and  having  commu¬ 
nicated  the  message  of  General  Washington,  Arnold,  with  his  family  and  the  two  aids,  sat 
down  to  breakfast.  Before  they  had  finished,  a  messenger  arrived  in  great  haste,  and 
handed  General  Arnold  a  letter,  which  he  read  with  deep  and  evident  emotion. 

41  The  self-control  of  the  soldier  enabled  Arnold  to  suppress  the  agony  he  endured  after 
reading  this  letter.  He  rose  hastily  from  the  table  ;  told  the  aids  that  his  immediate  pre¬ 
sence  was  required  at  West  Point;  and  desired  them  so  to  inform  General  Washington, 
when  he  arrived.  Having  first  ordered  a  horse  to  be  ready,  he  hastened  to  Mrs.  Arnold’s 
chamber,  and  there,  with  a  bursting  heart,  disclosed  to  her  his  dreadful  position,  and  that 
they  must  part,  perhaps  for  ever.t  Struck  with  horror  at  the  painful  intelligence,  this  fond 
and  devoted  wife  swooned,  and  fell  senseless  at  his  feet.  In  this  state  he  left  her,  hurried 
down  stairs,  and  mounting  his  horse,  rode  with  all  possible  speed  to  the  river.  In  doing 
so,  Arnold  did  not  keep  the  main  road,  but  passed  down  the  mountain,  pursuing  a  by-path 
through  the  woods,  which  Lieutenant  Arden  pointed  out,  and  which  is  now  called  4  Arnold's 
Path'  Near  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  where  the  path  approaches  the  main  road,  a  weep¬ 
ing  willow,  planted  there  no  doubt  by  some  patriot  hand,  stands,  in  marked  contrast  with 
the  forest  trees  which  encircle  and  surround  it,  to  point  out  to  the  inquiring  tourist  the  very 
pathway  of  the  traitor. 


*  The  property  now  belongs  to  Richard  D.  Arden,  Esq.,  and  adjoins  his  own  romantic 
and  beautiful  44  Ardenia,”  whence  no  44  visiter”  departs,  who  can  ever  forget  the  generous 
44  Highland  welcome.”  Mr.  Arden,  with  a  true  patriotism  that  does  him  honor,  has  per¬ 
mitted  no  alteration  of  the  interior  of  the  house.  The  same  low  ceiling,  large  and  uncov¬ 
ered  joists,  the  same  polished  tiles  around  the  fire-places,  and  the  absence  of  all  ornament 
which  marks  the  progress  of  modern  architecture,  preserve  complete  the  interest  which 
the  stirring  incidents  of  that  period  have  flung  around  the  44  Robinson  House.” 

t  We  also  visited  this  chamber,  which  remains  unaltered.  Over  the  mantel  is  carved  in 
the  wood  work :  44  G.  Wallis,  Lieut.  VI.  Mass.  Regt." 

37 


290 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 


“  In  our  interesting  visit,  we  were  accompanied  by  the  superintendent,  Major  Dela- 
field,  and  in  the  barges  kindly  ordered  for  our  accommodation,  we  were  rowed  to  ‘  Beverly 
Dock,’  and  landed  at  the  spot  where  Arnold  took  boat  to  aid  his  escape.  He  was  rowed 
to  the  ‘  Vulture,’  and  using  a  white  handkerchief,  created  the  impression  that  it  was  a 
flag-boat :  it  was  therefore  suffered  to  pass.  He  made  himself  known  to  Captain  Suther¬ 
land,  of  the  Vulture,  and  then  calling  on  board  the  leader  of  the  boatmen  who  had  rowed 
him  off,  informed  him  that  he  and  his  crew  were  all  prisoners  of  war.  This  disgraceful 
and  most  unmanly  appendix  to  his  treason,  was  considered  so  contemptible  by  the  captain, 
that  he  permitted  the  man  to  go  on  shore,  on  his  parole  of  honor,  to  procure  clothes  for 
himself  and  comrades.  This  he  did,  and  returned  the  same  day.  When  they  arrived  in 
New  York,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  holding  in  just  contempt  such  a  wanton  act  of  meanness, 
set  them  all  at  liberty. 

“  When  General  Washington  reached  ‘  Beverly,’  and  was  informed  that  Arnold  had 
departed  for  West  Point,  he  crossed  directly  over,  expecting  to  find  him.  Surprised  to 
learn  that  he  had  not  been  there,  after  examining  the  works  he  returned.  General  Ham¬ 
ilton  had  remained  at  ‘  Beverly,’  and  as  Washington  and  his  suite  were  walking  up  the 
mountain  road,  from  ‘  Beverly  Dock,’  they  met  General  Hamilton,  with  anxious  face  and 
hurried  step,  coming  towards  them.  A  brief  and  suppressed  conversation  took  place  be¬ 
tween  Washington  and  himself,  and  they  passed  on  rapidly  to  the  house,  where  the  papers 
that  Washington’s  change  of  route  had  prevented  his  receiving,  had  been  delivered  that 
morning  ;  and  being  represented  to  Hamilton  as  of  great  and  pressing  importance,  were 
by  him  opened,  and  the  dreadful  secret  disclosed.  Instant  measures  were  adopted  to  in¬ 
tercept  Arnold,  and  prevent  his  escape,  but  in  vain.  General  Washington  then  commu¬ 
nicated  the  facts  to  La  Fayette  and  Knox,  and  said  to  the  former,  ‘  more  in  sorrow  than 
in  anger,’  ‘  Whom  can  ice  trust  now  ?’  He  also  went  up  to  see  Mrs.  Arnold  ;  but  even 
Washington  could  carry  to  her  no  consolation.  Her  grief  was  almost  phrensied  ;  and  in 
its  wildest  moods,  she  spoke  of  General  Washington  as  the  murderer  of  her  child.  It 
seemed  that  she  had  not  the  remotest  idea  of  her  husband’s  treason  ;  and  she  had  even  school¬ 
ed  her  heart  to  feel  more  for  the  cause  of  America,  from  her  regard  for  those  who  pro¬ 
fessed  to  love  it.  Her  husband’s  glory  was  her  dream  of  bliss — the  requiem  chant  for  her 
infant’s  repose ;  and  she  was  found,  alas  !  as  many  a  confiding  heart  has  oft  been  found, 

*  To  cling  like  ivy  round  a  worthless  thing.’  ” 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 

Queens  county,  an  original  county,  was  organized  in  1683,  and 
now  contains  all  that  part  of  Long  Island  which  is  bounded  easterly 
by  Suffolk  county,  southerly  by  the  Atlantic  ocean,  northerly  by  Long 
Island  sound,  and  westerly  by  Kings  county,  including  Lloyds  Neck 
or  Queens  Village,  the  islands  called  North  and  South  Brother,  Ri- 
ker’s  Island,  and  some  other  islands  lying  in  the  sound  opposite  the 
said  bounds  and  southerly  of  the  main  channel.  The  courts  of  the 
county  were  originally  holden  for  the  most  part  at  Hempstead,  at 
which  place  the  governor  on  various  occasions  ordered  meetings  of  the 
delegates  from  the  different  towns.  By  the  act  of  the  Assembly  in 
1683,  by  which  the  counties  and  towns  upon  Long  Island  were  organ¬ 
ized  and  established,  the  county  courts  were  required  thereafter  to  be 
held  at  the  village  of  Jamaica.  They  were  held  there  for  about  seven 
years  in  the  old  stone  church  which  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  present 
Fulton  street,  opposite  Union  Hall  street.  In  the  year  1690,  a  courts 
house  and  jail  were  erected  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  female 
academy,  and  continued  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 


291 


courts  of  the  county  until  the  present  courthouse  was  built  upon  the 
north  side  of  Hempstead  plains,  in  the  town  of  North  Hempstead,  in 
the  year  1788.  The  county  is  divided  into  6  towns  : 


Flushing, 

Hempstead, 


Jamaica,  Newtown, 

North  Hempstead,  Oyster  Bay. 


Central  part  of  Jamaica  Village ,  Long  Island. 


The  village  of  Jamaica  is  a  beautiful  place.  It  is  located  upon  the 
Long  Island  railroad,  13  miles  from  New  York,  also  upon  the  great 
thoroughfare  from  Brooklyn  to  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  and  en¬ 
joys  every  desirable  facility  of  intercourse  with  the  surrounding  coun¬ 
try.  Here  are  concentrated  the  different  roads  leading  to  Brooklyn, 
Williamsburg,  Rockaway,  Flushing,  Jericho,  and  Hempstead.  This 
village  was  made  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  north-riding  of  Yorkshire, 
at  its  organization  in  1665  ;  and  so  continued  after  the  division  of  Long 
Island  into  counties  in  1683,  until  the  erection  of  the  courthouse  on 
Hempstead  plains  in  1788.  The  offices  of  surrogate  and  county  clerk 
are  still  required  to  be  kept  here,  and  for  which  a  suitable  building  has 
been  erected.  The  village  was  incorporated  April  15,  1814,  and  has 
been  gradually  increasing  in  buildings  and  population,  till  it  now  con¬ 
tains  about  two  hundred  dwellings  and  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants.  It 
has,  besides  the  academies,  five  places  for  public  worship,  and  two  news¬ 
paper  printing  offices.  There  are  several  splendid  private  residences 
in  the  village  and  its  immediate  vicinity,  erected  by  gentlemen  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  who  find  it  both  convenient  and  agreeable. 

Flushing  village,  recently  incorporated,  contains  about  2000  inhabit¬ 
ants  in  a  square  mile.  Its  various  attractions,  with  great  facility  of 
communication  with  New  York,  have  induced  many  wealthy  citizens 
to  locate  in  its  immediate  neighborhood.  Some  of  the  private  resi¬ 
dences  are  among  the  most  imposing  and  splendid  edifices  in  the  state. 
The  village  of  Flushing  lies  at  the  head  of  Flushing  Bay,  5  miles  from 


292 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 


the  sound,  by  water,  9  miles  from  the  centre  of  New  York,  and  con¬ 
tains  a  number  of  flourishing  literary  institutions  for  both  sexes.  This 
place  is  also  distinguished  for  its  excellent  nurseries  of  fruit  and  other 
trees.  The  village  of  Astoria,  recently  incorporated,  is  situated  on  the 
East  River,  near  Blackwell’s  Island.  This  place  was  formerly  called 
“  Hallet’s  Cove.”  Near  Rockaway,  a  small  village,  is  5  miles  SW. 
of  Hempstead.  “  Far  Rockaway, ”  about  29  miles  from  New  York, 
has  grown  into  importance  as  a  fashionable  watering  place. 


Bowne  Mansion-housd,  Flushing ,  L.  I. 


On  the  right  in  the  annexed  view  is  the  Bowne  mansion-house,  sit¬ 
uated  upon  the  elevated  ground  about  half  a  mile  eastward  of  the 
steamboat  landing  in  Flushing.  It  is  believed  to  be  the  oldest  house 
now  standing  on  Long  Island,  having  been  erected  in  1661,  by  John 
Bowne,  of  the  society  of  Friends.  Besides  the  antiquity  of  the  build¬ 
ing,  it  is  one  of  much  historic  interest.  The  celebrated  George  Fox, 
the  founder  of  the  society  of  Friends,  has  lodged  within  the  walls  of 
this  house,  which  was  the  place  for  the  yearly  meeting  for  the  whole 
body  of  Friends  in  the  province  of  New  York,  previous  to  1690.  On 
the  left  of  the  engraving,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  from  the 
house,  are  seen  two  ancient  oaks,  under  which  Fox  preached  when  in 
this  country  in  1672.  Although  differing  in  some  of  his  tenets  from 
the  majority  of  those  professing  the  Christian  name,  George  Fox  had 
the  martyr  spirit  within,  and,  had  he  been  called  to  the  trial,  would 
doubtless  have  sealed  his  testimony  with  his  blood.  His  sufferings  in 
the  cause  of  religious  freedom  entitle  him  to  the  gratitude  of  mankind. 
Men  of  his  stamp  are  the  true  patriots  and  genuine  nobility  of  the  hu¬ 
man  race.  “  A  nobler  object,”  says  an  eloquent  writer,  “no  human 
or  angelic  mind  could  ever  propose  to  itself,  than  to  promote  the  glory 
of  the  great  Governor  of  the  universe,  in  studying  and  laboring  to  dif¬ 
fuse  purity  and  happiness  among  his  unholy  and  miserable  creatures.” 


QUEENS  COUNTY 


*93 


Cadwallader  Colden  was 
years  a  resident  of 
He  was  the  son  of 
Alexander  Colden,  of 
Dunse,  in  Scotland,  where  he 
was  born  Feb.  17,  1688.  He 
studied  medicine  at  Edinburgh, 
and  in  1708  came  to  Philadel-  Facsimile  of  Cadwallader  Colden' s  signature. 

phia,  and  established  himself  as  a  physician.  In  1718,  he  removed  to  New  York,  and 
was  soon  appointed  surveyor-general,  and  afterward  master  in  chancery.  In  1720,  he 
was  advanced  to  a  place  in  the  king’s  council  of  the  province,  and  was  for  a  long  time 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  members  of  that  body.  In  1761,  he  was  appointed  lieutenant- 
governor,  and  held  the  office  till  his  death  in  1776.  He  was  a  distinguished  scholar  as 
well  as  a  civilian  ;  was  thoroughly  versed  in  the  knowledge  of  medicine,  botany,  and  as¬ 
tronomy  ;  and  corresponded  with  many  of  the  most  eminent  scholars  both  in  America  and 
Europe.  Besides  his  publications  relating  to  mathematics,  botany,  and  medicine,  he 
wrote  a  valuable  history  of  the  Five  Indian  Nations.  While  holding  the  office  of  lieuten¬ 
ant-governor,  he  resided  most  of  the  time  at  his  farm  in  Flushing,  called  Spring  Hill. 
He  died  Sept.  26,  1776,  and  was  buried  in  a  private  cemetery  on  the  Spring  Hill  farm. 
He  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  a  part  of  whom  only  survived  him.  Three  of  his 
sons,  Alexander,  Cadwallader,  and  David,  were  prominent  men  in  the  colony.  Cadwal¬ 
lader  D.  Colden ,  the  only  son  of  David  Colden,  was  born  at  Spring  Hill  in  Flushing, 
April  4,  1769.  He  commenced  his  education  in  the  town  of  Jamaica,  and  completed  it 
in  London.  In  1785,  he  returned  to  the  United  States  and  commenced  the  study  of  law. 
He  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  1793,  where  he  was 
soon  made  district  attorney,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future  fame.  In  a  few  years 
he  stood,  as  a  commercial  lawyer,  at  the  head  of  his  profession,  and  in  the  other  branches, 
among  the  first.  In  1818  he  was  elected  to  the  New  York  assembly,  and  the  same  year 
appointed  mayor  of  New  York.  In  1822  he  was  chosen  a  representative  in  Congress. 
In  1824  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  and  held  the  office  three  years  in  succession. 
The  most  untiring  industry  and  patient  research  were  peculiar  traits  in  his  professional 
character,  and  marked  his  proceedings  in  every  thing  he  undertook.  He  was  among  the 
earliest  and  most  efficient  promoters,  in  connection  with  De  Witt  Clinton,  of  the  system 
of  internal  improvements.  At  the  completion  of  the  Erie  canal,  he  wrote  and  published 
the  memoir  upon  the  subject.  He  wrote  also  the  life  of  Robert  Fulton.  He  died  univer¬ 
sally  esteemed,  at  Jersey  City,  Feb.  7,  1834. 


for  many 
Flushing, 
the  Rev. 


Northern  view  of  Hempstead,  Long  Island. 


The  annexed  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  Hempstead  village 
as  it  is  entered  from  the  north  by  the  branch  railroad,  two  miles  in 
length,  which  connects  the  village  with  the  Long  Island  railroad.  It 
is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  southern  margin  of  the  great  “  Hempstead 
plains 21  miles  from  New  York.  The  village  consists  of  about  200 
dwellings,  3  churches,  and  the  Hempstead  seminary. 


294 


RENSSELAER  COUNTY. 


RENSSELAER  COUNTY. 


Rensselaer  county  was  taken  from  Albany  in  1791.  Greatest 
length  30,  greatest  breadth  22  miles;  centrally  distant  from  New  York 
N.  156,  and  from  Albany  E.  10  miles.  The  eastern  portion  of  the 
county  is  broken  and  hilly,  and  in  some  places  rather  mountainous  and 
interspersed  with  fertile  valleys.  The  central  and  western  part  is  di¬ 
versified  with  hills,  and  a  gently  undulating  surface.  It  has  extensive 
valleys  and  flats  of  alluvion,  with  a  warm  rich  soil ;  and  the  uplands 
have  an  easy  soil,  well  adapted  to  the  various  purposes  of  agriculture. 
There  is  an  abundance  of  mill  sites,  and  the  numerous  streams  irri¬ 
gate  every  portion  of  the  country.  Though  short,  they  possess,  from 
their  great  fall,  much  hydraulic  power.  The  principal  on  the  north  are 
the  Hoosick ,  and  its  tributaries  the  Little  Hoosick  and  Tomhenick  ;  on 
the  south  Kinderhook,  and  its  branches  Tackawasick  and  Valitie 
creeks  ;  the  Poesten  and  Wynant  kills,  and  Moordenaar’ s  creek.  This 
county  had  partial  settlements  at  a  very  early  period  of  our  history, 
and  has  long  sustained  a  very  considerable  population.  The  whole  of 
the  county,  except  the  towns  of  Schagticoke,  Pittstown,  Hoosick,  and 
north  part  of  Lansingburg  and  part  of  Troy,  is  comprised  within  the 
Rensselaerwyck  patent,  leased  under  the  ordinary  rent,  in  farms,  at  ten 
bushels  of  wheat  the  hundred  acres.  The  county  contains  13  towns 
and  the  city  of  Troy  : 


Berlin, 

Brunswick, 

Grafton, 

Greenbush, 


Hoosick, 

Lansingburg, 

Nassau, 

Petersburg, 


Pittstown, 
Sand  Lake, 
Schagticoke, 
Schodack, 


Stephentown, 

Troy. 


Troy  city,  seat  of  justice  for  the  county,  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Hudson,  6  miles  north  of  Albany,  at  the  junction  of  the  Hudson  and 
Mohawk  valleys.  There  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  its  present  site 
was  visited  by  Hudson,  the  first  navigator  of  Hudson  river,  in  1609. 
In  the  record  of  his  voyage,  it  is  stated  he  “  went  sounding  his  way 
above  the  highlands,  till  at  last  the  Crescent  (the  ship  in  which  he 
made  his  voyage)  had  sailed  beyond  the  city  of  Hudson,  and  a  boat 
had  advanced  a  little  beyond  Albany.”  Probably  this  boat  ascended 
to  the  rifts  which  lay  at  the  northerly  part  of  the  city,  where  the  ordi¬ 
nary  tides  spent  their  force,  and  the  navigation  was  interrupted. 

For  more  than  a  century  after  Hudson’s  voyage,  the  territory  now 
comprising  the  site  of  Troy,  (although  within  the  limits  of  the  grant 
made  to  the  patroon,)  probably  remained  part  of  the  hunting  ground 
of  the  Mohawk  Indians.  In  1720,  a  grant  of  490  acres,  extending 
along  the  Hudson  between  the  Poestenkill  and  Meadow  creek,  com¬ 
prehending  the  original  allotments  on  which  the  city  was  erected, 
was  made  in  fee  by  the  proprietor  of  the  manor  of  Rensselaerwyck 
to  Derick  Van  Derheyden,  at  the  small  rent  of  three  bushels  and  three 
pecks  of  wheat  and  four  fat  fowls  annually.  From  the  date  of  the 
grant,  and  possibly  from  a  period  a  little  earlier,  this  plain  and  the 


RENSSELAER  COUNTY. 


295 


first  range  of  hills  adjoining,  was  possessed  by  the  grantee  and  his 
descendants,  and  small  portions  of  it  cultivated  as  a  farm.* 

After  the  revolution,  emigrants  from  New  England,  seeing  the  ad¬ 
vantageous  situation  of  Van  Derheyden,  as  it  was  then  called,  in¬ 
duced  the  proprietors  to  lay  it  out  into  town  lots.  At  this  period 
Lansingburg,  then  called  the  “  New  City,”  was  a  village  of  considera¬ 
ble  size  and  commercial  importance ;  the  city  of  Albany  lay  a  few 
miles  to  the  south,  and  had  for  many  generations  been  the  centre  of 
trade  for  the  entire  country  around.  These  circumstances  at  the 
first  appeared  unpropitious  to  the  growth  of  this  place.  The  estab¬ 
lishment  of  the  Federal  government  in  1789,  and  the  settlement  of 
the  “new  state”  of  Vermont,  gave  an  impulse  to  the  spirit  of  enter¬ 
prise.  The  village  of  Van  Derheyden  being  at  the  head  of  the  nat¬ 
ural  navigation  of  the  Hudson,  after  some  struggle  began  to  outstrip 
the  “  New  City,”  which  had  been  unwisely  located  above  the  rifts. 
The  earliest  surveys  of  the  three  allotments  into  which  the  site  was 
originally  divided,  were  made  between  the  years  1786  and  1790; 
one  or  two  slight  buildings  in  1786,  and  a  small  number  the  two  years 
following.  It  is  stated  that  by  the  spring  of  1789,  five  small  stores 
and  about  a  dozen  dwelling-houses  had  been  erected.  The  appella¬ 
tion  of  Van  Derheyden’s  Ferry  was  now  changed  into  the  more 
classic  name  of  Troy. 

In  1791,  the  county  of  Rensselaer  was  detached  from  Albany,  and 
Troy  was  selected  as  the  county  seat.  In  1793  the  first  courthouse 
was  erected,  and  the  jail  the  following  year.  The  influential  men 
among  the  first  settlers  were  the  friends  of  order,  and  supporters  of 
the  institutions  of  religion.  When  they  were  too  few  to  support  a 
clergyman,  they  were  accustomed  to  assemble  in  a  store  at  the  sound 
of  a  conch-horn,  and  afterward  in  a  school-house.  Here  they  usu¬ 
ally  listened  to  a  sermon  read  by  Dr.  Samuel  Gall,  or  the  late  Col. 
Pawling,  a  revolutionary  officer.  In  1791,  the  inhabitants,  too 
few  to  consult  their  denominational  preferences,  by  an  united  effort 
erected  a  frame  for  a  house  of  public  worship,  which  was  covered 
the  following  year,  and  although  unfinished,  was  used  as  a  place  for 
public  worship.  This  building  became  the  first  edifice  of  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  congregation.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Jonas  Coe  was  their  first  min¬ 
ister.  His  services  at  this  period  were  divided  between  Troy  and 
Lansingburg,  his  residence  being  in  the  latter  place.  An  Episcopal 
church,  an  edifice  of  small  dimension  of  brick,  was  erected  in  1804, 
which  was  enlarged  some  years  afterward,  and  is  now  known  as 
St.  John’s  church.  In  1805,  the  Baptist  congregation  erected  a  house 
of  worship  in  Third-street,  which  was  afterward  enlarged.  The 


*  Mr.  Elijah  Adams,  now  (1840)  77  years  of  age,  who  has  resided  here  about  60  years, 
states  that  when  he  first  knew  the  Van  Derheyden  lands,  there  were  patches  or  strips  with, 
in  the  present  site  of  the  city,  known  as  the  corn  grounds  of  the  native  Indians.  Some, 
time  after  he  had  taken  up  his  residence  here,  a  full  grown  bear  swam  across  the  Hudson, 
landed  near  the  upper  ferry,  and  on  being  pursued  ran  across  the  low  land  among  the  small 
oaks,  and  at  length  ascended  a  pine  tree  near  the  present  location  of  the  Rensselaer  In. 
stitute,  and  was  there  brought  to  the  ground  oy  a  shot  from  his  rifle. 


RENSSELAER  COUNTY. 


*297 


first  circles  and  among  the  first  women  of  our  country  in  regard  to  piety  and  moral  worth, 
domestic  usefulness,  and  intellectual  and  social  accomplishments.  Several  of  the  pupils 
have  been  distinguished  as  authors.  About  twenty  teachers  are  constantly  employed.  The 
number  of  pupils  being  about  two  hundred,  gives  an  average  of  one  teacher  to  ten  pupils. 
The  objects  of  education  as  stated  in  the  original  plan  are  considered  to  be,  first,  religious 
and  moral ,  second,  literary  ;  third,  domestic  ;  and  fourth,  ornamental.  But  to  obtain  these 
ends,  the  physical  and  mental  powers  must  be  developed  and  strengthened  in  due  order  and 
proportion.  Great  care  has  been  bestowed  on  health,  and  but  one  death  of  a  pupil,  and 
that  a  sudden  one  from  organic  affection  of  the  heart,  has  occurred. 

The  Rensselaer  Institute  is  an  excellent  institution  under  the  charge 
of  Professor  Eaton.  Many  young  men  are  here  fitted  for  the  pro¬ 
fession  of  civil  engineering.  The  system  of  teaching  is  thorough 
and  practical. 

The  city  of  Troy  is  regularly  laid  out,  on  a  plan  similar  to  that  of 
Philadelphia.  The  principal  street  is  River-street,  which  extends 
along  the  Hudson  the  whole  length  of  the  city,  and  is  ornamented 
with  many  splendid  and  spacious  stores.  It  is  the  theatre  of  a  very 
extensive  business.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  place  generally 
exhibits  the  quiet  aspect  of  the  country.  Many  of  the  buildings,  both 
public  and  private,  are  spacious  and  elegant.  The  courthouse,  built 
of  Sing  Sing  marble,  is  a  splendid  edifice,  after  the  Grecian  model. 
St.  Paul’s  church  is  a  noble  Gothic  edifice,  erected  at  an  expense  of 
about  50,000  dollars.  There  are  in  Troy  sixteen  places  of  public 
worship — viz,  4  Presbyterian,  3  Episcopal,  2  Methodist,  1  Scotch 
Presbyterian,  2  Baptist,  1  Catholic,  2  African,  and  1  Friends 
meeting-houses.  On  the  Wvnant  and  Poestens  kills,  which  here 
empty  into  the  Hudson,  are  several  extensive  manufacturing  estab¬ 
lishments.  The  city  is  abundantly  supplied  with  excellent  water  from 
the  neighboring  hills.  Hydrants  are  placed  at  the  corners  of  the 
streets  with  hose  attached,  which  in  case  of  fire,  as  the  natural  head 
of  the  water  is  75  feet  above  the  city  level,  supersedes  the  use  of 
fire-engines.  Troy  is  indebted  in  a  great  measure  for  its  prosperity 
to  its  advantageous  situation,  and  the  enterprise  and  industry  of  her 
inhabitants.  She  has  extensively  availed  herself  of  the  facilities 
afforded  by  the  river  and  the  Erie  and  Champlain  canals.  The  tides 
of  the  Hudson  frequently  ascend  to  a  dam  thrown  across  the  river 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  centre  of  the  city.  By  means  of 
a  lock,  sloop  navigation  is  thus  afforded  to  the  village  of  Waterford. 
Within  the  last  few  years  Troy  has  increased  rapidly  in  wealth  and 
population.  In  1820  her  population  was  5,268;  in  1830,  11,566;  in 
1850,  28,785.  The  Rensselaer  and  Saratoga  railroad,  24  miles  to 
Ballston  Spa,  crosses  the  Hudson  at  this  place  by  a  bridge  1,600  feet 
in  length. 

Rensselaerwyck,  or  the  manor  of  Rensselaer ,  includes  a  very  extensive  tract  on  both  sides 
of  the  Hudson,  in  nearly  the  centre  of  which  is  the  city  of  Albany.  It  is  24  miles  wide 
on  the  river,  and  about  42  miles  long,  east  and  west.  It  includes  in  its  area  all  of  Rensse. 
laer  county,  excepting  the  towns  of  Schaghticoke,  Hoosick,  and  Pittstown,  and  the  greater 
part  of  Albany  county.  The  title  to  this  patent  is  derived  from  several  successive  grants 
by  the  government  of  Holland,  dating  as  far  back  as  1641,  when  the  first  grant  was  made 
to  Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  who  had  purchased  the  native  right  to  the  soil,  under  conditions 
stipulated  by  the  government  of  Holland.  “When  this  country  changed  masters,  passing 
from  the  Dutch  to  the  English,  again  for  a  short  time  to  the  Dutch,  and  finally  again  to  the 
English,  some  controversies  arose  about  indemnities,  but  the  private  right  of  the  original 


298 


RENSSELAER  COUNTY. 


proprietor  of  the  colony  of  Rensselaerwyck  was  never  questioned.  And  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1685,  the  whole  was  confirmed  by  letters  patent,  under  the  great  seal  of  the  prov¬ 
ince  of  New  York,  by  Thomas  Dongan,  lieutenant-governor  of  the  same.  The  original 
design  of  the  Dutch  government  extended  only  to  the  founding  of  colonies  in  this  country 
by  citizens  of  Holland,  who  should  amicably  acquire  the  Indian  title  to  the  lands ;  and  the 
founder  of  a  colony  was  therefore  styled  its  patroon  by  the  bill  of  privileges  and  the  deed 
of  conveyance,  the  latter  of  which  was  only  granted  when  the  native  right  had  been  ac¬ 
quired  by  purchase.”  A  great  portion  of  the  land  is  permanently  leased,  and  rent  annually 
paid  in  the  products  of  the  soil  to  the  patroon  at  Albany. 


Northwestern  view  of  Lansingburg . 


Lansingburg  was  incorporated  in  1801.  It  is  beautifully  situated 
on  the  Hudson,  3  miles  N.  of  Troy,  9  N.  from  Albany,  and  1  S.  from 
Waterford.  Formerly  it  was  called  the  “  New  City,”  and  the  ra¬ 
pidity  of  its  growth  at  that  time  excited  wonder.  The  village  is 
regularly  laid  out  with  capacious  streets  in  squares  of  400  by  260 
feet,  and  is  a  place  of  considerable  manufacturing  and  commercial 
business.  There  are  here  2  Presbyterian,  2  Methodist,  1  Baptist,  1 
Episcopal,  and  1  Universalist  church,  an  academy  in  high  repute,  2 
printing  offices,  a  bank,  many  mercantile  stores,  &c.,  and  about  400 
houses.  Three  of  the  sprouts  of  the  Mohawk  enter  the  Hudson  near 
the  village,  and  the  Cahoes  Falls  are  often  distinctly  heard  in  the  still¬ 
ness  of  the  night.  The  annexed  engraving  is  from  a  view  taken  near 
the  bridge  a  short  distance  above  the  village,  connecting  it  with  Water¬ 
ford.  In  the  extreme  distance  on  the  right,  the  bridge  over  the  Hud¬ 
son,  at  Troy,  is  visible.  Lansingburg  was  organized  as  a  village  in 
1771,  and  “  is  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  oldest,  chartered  village  in 
tie  state.” 

The  village  of  Greenbush,  opposite  Albany,  contains  upwards  of 
1f>0  dwellings.  During  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  the  United 
States  cantonment  was  erected  here  about  2  miles  eastward  of  Alba¬ 
ny.  The  buildings  are  now  in  a  ruinous  condition.  Scaghticoke 
Point  is  a  large  manufacturing  village  containing  upwards  of  150 
dwellings,  13  miles  NE.  of  Troy.  Hoosick  Falls,  24  miles  NE.  of 
Troy,  is  a  manufacturing  village  containing  about  80  dwellings. 


RICHMOND  COUNTY. 


299 


RICHMOND  COUNTY. 

Richmond,  an  original  county,  was  organized  November  1,  1683, 
and  comprises  Staten  Island,  Shooter’s  Island,  and  the  islands  of  mea¬ 
dow  on  the  west  side  of  Staten  Island.  It  is  about  14  miles  long,  and 
its  greatest  breadth  is  8  ;  mean  breadth  5  miles.  It  is  divided  into  4 
towns,  all  of  which  were  organized  in  1788.  Pop.  10,985. 

Castleton,  Northfield,  Southfield,  Westfield. 


Sailor's  Snug  Harbor. 


The  “  Sailor’s  Snug  Harbor”  is  a  charitable  institution  for  aged  or 
infirm  seamen,  pleasantly  located  about  a  mile  W.  of  New  Brighton. 
The  buildings  are  in  the  Grecian  style,  with  marble  fronts  ;  the  main 
building,  65  by  100  feet,  has  marble  pillars  in  front,  and  is  connected 
by  corridors  with  wings  of  53  by  100  feet.  Cost  of  construction 
$115,000.  The  institution  was  founded  in  1801,  by  Robert  Richard 
Randall,  of  New  York,  who  bequeathed  22  acres  for  this  purpose  in 
the  15th  ward,  which  at  that  time  was  of  comparatively  little  value, 
but  now  has  increased  to  an  immense  estate.  Connected  with  the 
building  is  a  farm  of  160  acres.  In  the  yard  fronting  the  edifice  is  an 
elegant  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  founder.  No  worthy  appli¬ 
cant  has  ever  yet  been  rejected.  There  are  here  at  present  110  of  the 
sons  of  Neptune,  many  of  whom  having  dropped  their  iast  anchor,  have 
found  a  snug  port  for  life. 

Richmond,  the  county  seat,  13  miles  from  New  Yoik,  is  a  neat  but 
antiquated  village,  partly  located  in  this  town  and  in  Murthfield  and 
Westfield.  It  contains  2  churches,  2  hotels,  a  courthouse  and  jail, 
and  about  45  dwellings.  At  the  Narrows  are  the  lorts  Tompkins, 
Richmond,  and  Hudson,  and  the  Signal  Hill. 


aoo 


ROCKLAND  COUNTY. 


ROCKLAND  COUNTY. 

Rockland  county  was  taken  from  Orange  in  1798  ;  greatest  length 
23,  greatest  breadth  18  miles.  It  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southern 
angle  of  the  state,  upon  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson.  Its  surface  is 
generally  much  broken,  and  in  the  W.  and  NW.  mountainous. 
The  valleys  are  rich,  extensive,  and  fertile.  Dobbs  Ferry,  Stony  Point, 
Fort  Clinton,  and  the  Pass,  were  noted  in  the  annals  of  the  revolution. 
“  Orangetown,  now  in  Rockland,  was  the  capital  of  the  county  until 
1737,  when  a  courthouse  and  jail  were  built  at  Goshen,  in  Orange, 
and  the  courts  were  holden  at  the  two  places  alternately.  About  1774, 
the  courthouse  and  jail  at  Orangetown  having  been  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  part  of  the  village  having  been  transferred  to  New  Jersey,  public 
buildings  were  erected  at  the  ‘  New  City,’  then  in  the  precinct  of 
Haverstraw.”  The  New  York  and  Erie  railroad  commences  at 
Piermont,  and  running  through  Orangetown,  Clarkstown,  and  Ramapo, 
enters  Orange  county  in  the  town  of  Monroe.  This  county  is  divided 
into  4  towns,  viz. : 

Clarkson,  Haverstraw,  Orangetown,  Ramapo. 


Northern  view  of  Stony  Point ,  on  the  Hudson. 

The  above  is  a  northern  view  of  Stony  Point,  as  seen  when  pass¬ 
ing  down  the  Hudson.  This  place  is  a  little  rough  promontory  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  nearly  a  mile  below  the  entrance  of 
the  Highlands,  having  a  lighthouse  on  its  summit.  It  was  a  fortified 
post  during  the  revolutionary  war,  and  is  distinguished  by  the  celebrated 
assault  made  upon  it  on  the  16th  July,  1779,  by  Gen.  Wayne.  Ver- 
planck’s  Point,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  is  also  a  place  dis¬ 
tinguished  in  the  history  of  the  revolution.  The  following  is  an  ac¬ 
count  of  the  storming  of  Stpny  Point,  as  compninicated  in  a  letter 
from  Gen.  Wayne  to  Washington,  dated  Stony  Point,  July  17th,  1779. 

“  Sir, — I  have  the  honor  to  give  you  a  full  and  particular  relation  of  the  reduction  of 
this  Point,  by  the  light  infantry  under  my  command. 

f‘  ,Qn  fhe  15th  instant  at  twelve  o’clock  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  frpm  Sandy  Beach, 


ROCKLAND  COUNTY. 


301 


distant  fourteen  miles  from  this  place  ;  the  roads  being  exceedingly  bad  and  narrow,  and 
having  to  pass  over  high  mountains,  through  deep  morasses,  and  difficult  defiles,  we  were 
obliged  to  move  in  single  files  the  greatest  part  of  the  way.  At  *dght  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing  the  van  arrived  at  Mr.  Springsteels,  within  one  mile  and  a  half  of  the  enemy,  and 
formed  into  columns  as  fast  as  they  came  up,  agreeably  to  the  order  of  battle  annexed ; 
namely,  Colonels  Febiger’s  and  Meigs’  regiments,  with  Major  Hull’s  detachment,  formed 
the  right  column ;  Colonel  Butler’s  regiment  and  Major  Murfev’s  two  companies  the  left 
The  troops  remained  in  this  position  until  several  of  the  principal  officers  with  myself  had 
returned  from  reconnoitring  the  works.  At  half  after  eleven  o’clock,  being  the  hour  fixed 
on,  the  whole  moved  forward.  The  van  of  the  right  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
volunteers,  properly  officered,  who  advanced  with  unloaded  muskets  and  fixed  bayonets, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fleury ;  these  were  preceded  by  twenty  picked 
men,  and  a  vigilant  and  brave  officer  to  remove  the  abatis  and  other  obstructions.  The 
van  of  the  left  consisted  of  one  hundred  volunteers,  under  the  command  of  Major  Stewart, 
with  unloaded  muskets  and  fixed  bayonets,  also  preceded  by  a  brave  and  determined  officer 
with  twenty  men,  for  the  same  purpose  as  the  other. 

“  At  twelve  o’clock  the  assault  was  to  begin  on  the  right  and  left  flanks  of  the  enemy’s 
works,  whilst  Major  Murfey  amused  them  in  front ;  but  a  deep  morass  covering  their  whole 
front,  and  at  this  time  overflowed  by  the  tide,  together  with  other  obstructions,  rendered 
the  approaches  more  difficult  than  was  at  first  apprehended,  so  that  it  was  about  twenty 
minutes  after  twelve  before  the  assault  began ;  previously  to  which  I  placed  myself  at  the 
head  of  Febiger’s  regiment,  or  the  right  column,  and  gave  the  troops  the  most  pointed 
orders  not  to  fire  on  any  account,  but  place  their  whole  dependence  on  the  bayonet,  which 
order  was  literally  and  faithfully  obeyed.  Neither  the  deep  morass,  the  formidable  and 
double  rows  of  abatis,  nor  the  strong  works  in  front  and  flank,  could  damp  the  ardor  of  the 
troops,  who,  in  the  face  of  a  most  tremendous  and  incessant  fire  of  musketry,  and  from 
cannon  loaded  with  grape-shot,  forced  their  way  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  through  every 
obstacle,  both  columns  meeting  in  the  centre  of  the  enemy’s  w  wks  nearly  at  the  same  in¬ 
stant.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  Lieutenant-colonel  Fleury  (who  struck  the 
enemy’s  standard  with  his  own  hand,)  and  to  Major  Stewart,  who  commanded  the  advanced 
parties,  for  their  brave  and  prudent  conduct. 

*•  Colonels  Butler,  Meigs,  and  Febiger  conducted  themselves  with  that  coolness,  bravery, 
and  perseverance,  that  will  ever  insure  success.  Lieutenant-colonel  Hay  was  wounded  in 
the  thigh,  bravely  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  battalion.  I  should  take  up  too  much  of  your 
excellency’s  time,  were  I  to  particularize  every  individual  who  deserves  it  for  his  bravery 
on  this  occasion.  I  cannot,  however,  omit  Major  Lee,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  frequent 
and  very  useful  intelligence,  which  contributed  much  to  the  success  of  the  enterprise  ;  and 
it  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  I  acknowledge  to  you,  that  I  was  supported  in  the  attack  by 
all  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  my  command,  to  the  utmost  of  my  wishes.  The  officers 
and  privates  of  the  artillery  exerted  themselves  in  turning  the  cannon  against  Verplanck’s 
Point,  and  forced  the  enemy  to  cut  the  cables  of  their  shipping,  and  run  down  the  river. 

“  I  should  be  wanting  in  gratitude  were  I  to  omit  mentioning  Captain  Fishbourn  and  Mr. 
Archer,  my  two  aids-de-camp,  who  on  every  occasion  showed  the  greatest  intrepidity,  and 
supported  me  into  the  works  after  I  received  my  wound  in  passing  the  last  abatis. 

“  Enclosed  are  the  returns  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  light  infantry,  as  also  of  the 
enemy,  together  with  the  number  of  prisoners  taken,  likewise  of  the  ordnance  and  stores 
found  in  the  garrison. 

“  I  forgot  to  inform  your  excellency,  that  previously  to  my  marching,  I  had  drawn  Gene¬ 
ral  Muhlenberg  into  my  rear,  who,  with  three  hundred  men  of  his  brigade,  took  post  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  marsh,  so  as  to  be  in  readiness  either  to  support  me,  or  to  cover  a  re. 
treat  in  case  of  accident ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  his  faithfully  and  effectually  executing 
either,  had  there  been  any  occasion  for  him. 

“  The  humanity  of  our  brave  soldiery,  who  scorned  to  take  the  lives  of  a  vanquished  foe 
ealling  for  mercy,  reflects  the  highest  honor  on  them,  and  accounts  for  the  few  of  the  enemy 
killed  on  the  occasion. 

“  I  am  not  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  I  have  mentioned  the  conduct  of  Lieuten¬ 
ants  Gibbons  and  Knox,  the  two  gentlemen  who  led  the  advanced  parties  of  twenty  men 
each.  Their  distinguished  bravery  deserves  the  highest  commendation.  The  former  be. 
longs  to  the  sixth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  and  lost  seventeen  men  killed  and  wounded  in 
the  attack ;  the  latter  belongs  to  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  and  was  more  fortunate 
in  saving  his  men,  though  not  less  exposed.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

“  Anthony  Wayne.” 


“  The  ntmber  of  prisoners  taken  in  the  fort  was  jive  bundled  and  forty-three.  By  Ge. 


302 


ROCKLAND  COUNTY. 


ueral  Wayne’s  return  the  number  of  killed  was  sixty-three.  In  Colonel  Johnson’s  official 
account  of  the  transaction,  his  loss  in  killed  is  stated  to  have  been  only  twenty.  It  is  not 
easy  to  reconcile  this  discrepancy.  The  assailing  party  had  fifteen  killed  and  eighty -three 
wounded. 

“  Congress  passed  resolves  highly  complimentary  to  the  officers  and  privates  engaged  in 
this  enterprise,  and  confirming  the  promise  of  reward  which  had  been  previously  made  by 
General  Wayne  ;  and  also  directing  the  value  of  all  the  military  stores  taken  at  Stony 
Point  to  be  ascertained  and  divided  among  the  troops  who  were  engaged  in  storming  the 
fort. 

“  The  rewards  were  as  follows  :  to  the  first  man  who  entered  the  enemy’s  works,  five 
hundred  dollars;  to  the  second,  four  hundred  dollars;  to  the  third,  three  hundred;  to  the 
fourth,  two  hundred  ;  to  the  fifth,  one  hundred  ;  being  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  the  whole. 
The  ordnance  and  other  stores  were  estimated  at  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thousand  six 
hundred  and  forty  dollars ;  which  amount  was  divided  among  the  troops  in  proportion  to 
the  pay  of  the  officers  and  men. 

“  Three  different  medals,  emblematical  of  the  action,  were  struck  by  order  of  congress, 
bearing  the  names  respectively  of  Wayne,  Fleury,  and  Stewart.” 

The  village  of  Piermont,  24  miles  N.  of  New  York,  contains  about 
150  dwellings  and  2  churches.  The  New  York  and  Erie  railroad 
commences  here  by  a  pier  in  the  river  nearly  a  mile  in  length.  Dobbs' 
Ferry,  a  noted  place  in  the  revolution,  is  about  a  mile  below  this  place. 
Tappan,  a  little  village  of  about  20  houses,  is  3  miles  W.  of  Piermont, 
and  is  distinguished  as  the  place  where  Major  Andre  was  executed 
during  the  revolution.  In  1831,  his  remains  were  disinterred  by  the 
British  consul,  and  conveyed  to  London. 


North  view  of  the  place  where  Andre  was  executed. 

The  place  where  Andre  was  executed  is  at  the  summit  of  a  hill, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  Tappan  village,  and  overlooking  to 
the  east  a  romantic  and  fertile  valley.  A  small  heap  of  stones,  thrown 
nastily  together,  with  an  upright  stake  and  a  few  names  carved  rudely 
upon  it,  is  the  only  monument  to  mark  the  spot  of  his  execution  and 
his  grave.  While  in  Tappan  village,  Andre  was  confined  in  an  an¬ 
cient  stone  mansion,  at  present  occupied  as  a  tavern  by  Mr.  Thomas 
V\  andle.  His  trial  took  place  in  the  old  Dutch  church,  which  was 
torn  down  in  1836.  A  new  one  has  since  been  erected  on  the  same 
site.  Washington’s  head-quarters  were  in  the  antiquated  stone  dwel¬ 
ling  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Arthur  Johnson. 


ROCKLAN0  COUNTY. 


303 


The  following  account  of  the  execution  of  Andre,  which  took  place 
Oct.  2,  1780,  is  given  by  an  eye-witness. 

“  I  was  at  that  time  an  artificer  in  Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin’s  regiment,  a  part  of  which 
was  stationed  within  a  short  distance  of  the  spot  where  Andre  suffered.  One  of  our  men, 
(I  believe  his  name  was  Armstrong,)  being  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  workmen  at  his  trade 
in  the  regiment,  was  selected  to  make  his  coffin,  which  he  performed  and  painted  black, 
agreeable  to  the  custom  in  those  times. 

“  At  this  time  Andre  was  confined  in  what  was  called  a  Dutch  church,  a  small  stone 
building,  with  only  one  door,  and  closely  guarded  by  six  sentinels.  When  the  hour  ap. 
pointed  for  his  execution  arrived,  which  I  believe  was  2  o’clock,  P.  M.,  a  guard  of  three 
hundred  men  were  paraded  at  the  place  of  his  confinement.  A  kind  of  procession  was 
formed  by  placing  the  guard  in  single  file  on  each  side  of  the  road.  In  front  were  a  large 
number  of  American  officers  of  high  rank,  on  horseback ;  these  were  followed  by  the 
wagon  containing  Andre’s  coffin — then  a  large  number  of  officers  on  foot,  with  Andre  in 
their  midst.  The  procession  moved  slowly  up  a  moderately  rising  hill,  I  should  think  about 
a  fourth  of  a  mile  to  the  west.  On  the  top  was  a  field  without  any  enclosure  ;  in  this  was 
a  very  high  gallows,  made  by  setting  up  two  poles  or  crotches,  laying  a  pole  on  the  top. 
The  wagon  that  contained  the  coffin  was  drawn  directly  under  the  gallows.  In  a  short 
time  Andre  stepped  into  the  hind  end  of  the  wagon — then  on  his  coffin — took  off  his  hat 
and  laid  it  down — then  placed  his  hands  upon  his  hips,  and  walked  very  uprightly  back 
and  forth,  as  far  as  the  length  of  his  coffin  would  permit,  at  the  same  time  casting  his  eyes 
upon  the  pole  over  his  head  and  the  whole  scenery  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  He  was 
dressed  in  what  I  should  call  a  complete  British  uniform  ;  his  coat  was  of  the  brightest  scar¬ 
let,  faced  or  trimmed  with  the  most  beautiful  green  ;  his  under  clothes,  or  vest  and  breeches, 
were  bright  buff,  very  similar  to  those  worn  by  military  officers  in  Connecticut  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  day ;  he  had  a  long  and  beautiful  head  of  hair,  which,  agreeable  to  the  fashion,  was 
wound  with  a  black  riband,  and  hung  down  his  back.  All  eyes  were  upon  him,  and  it  is 
not  believed  that  any  officer  in  the  British  army,  placed  in  his  situation,  would  have  appeared 
better  than  this  unfortunate  man. 

“  Not  many  minutes  after  he  took  his  stand  upon  the  coffin,  the  executioner  stepped  into 
the  wagon  with  a  halter  in  his  hand,  on  one  end  of  which  was  what  the  soldiers  in  those 
days  called  a  hangman’s  knot,  which  he  attempted  to  put  over  the  head  and  around  the 
neck  of  Andre,  but  by  a  sudden  movement  of  his  hand  this  was  prevented.  Andre  took 
off  the  handkerchief  from  his  neck,  unpinned  his  shirt  collar,  and  deliberately  took  the  end 
of  the  halter,  put  it  over  his  head,  and  placed  the  knot  directly  under  his  right  ear,  and 
drew  it  very  snugly  to  his  neck  ;  he  then  took  from  his  coat  pocket  a  handkerchief  and  tied 
it  over  his  eyes.  This  done,  the  officer  that  commanded  (his  name  I  have  forgotten)  spoke 
in  rather  a  loud  voice,  and  said  that  his  arms  must  be  tied.  Andre  at  once  pulled  down 
the  handkerchief  he  had  just  tied  over  his  eyes,  and  drew  from  his  pocket  a  second  one, 
and  gave  to  the  executioner,  and  then  replaced  his  handkerchief.  His  arms  were  tied  just 
above  the  elbows,  and  behind  the  back :  the  rope  was  then  made  fast  to  the  pole  overhead. 
The  wagon  was  very  suddenly  drawn  from  under  the  gallows,  which,  together  with  the 
length  of  rope,  gave  him  a  most  tremendous  swing  back  and  forth,  but  in  a  few  moments  he 
hung  entirely  still.  During  the  whole  transaction  he  appeared  as  little  daunted  as  Mr.  John 
Rogers,  when  he  was  about  to  be  burnt  at  the  stake  ;  but  his  countenance  was  rather  pale. 
He  remained  hanging,  I  should  think,  from  20  to  30  minutes,  and  during  that  time  the 
chambers  of  death  were  never  stiller  than  the  multitude  by  which  he  was  surrounded. 
Orders  were  given  to  cut  the  rope,  and  take  him  down  without  letting  him  fall ;  this  was 
done,  and  his  body  carefully  laid  on  the  ground. — Shortly  after,  the  guard  was  withdrawn 
and  spectators  were  permitted  to  come  forward  to  view  the  corpse,  but  the  crowd  was  so 
great  that  it  was  some  time  before  I  could  get  an  opportunity.  When  I  was  able  to  do 
this,  his  coat,  vest,  and  breeches  were  taken  off,  and  his  body  laid  in  the  coffin,  covered  by 
some  under  clothes.  The  top  of  the  coffin  was  not  put  on.  I  viewed  the  corpse  more  care¬ 
fully  than  I  had  ever  done  that  of  any  human  being  before.  His  head  was  very  much  on 
one  side,  in  consequence  of  the  manner  in  which  the  halter  drew  upon  his  neck.  His  face 
appeared  to  be  greatly  swollen  and  very  black,  much  resembling  a  high  degree  of  mortifi¬ 
cation  ;  it  was  indeed  a  shocking  sight  to  behold.  There  was  at  this  time  standing  at  the 
foot  of  the  coffin,  two  young  men  of  uncommon  short  stature — I  should  think  not  more 
than  four  feet  high.  Their  dress  was  the  most  gaudy  that  I  ever  beheld.  One  of  them  had 
the  clothes  just  taken  from  Andre  hanging  on  his  arm.  I  took  particular  pains  to  learn  who 
they  were,  and  was  informed  that  they  were  his  servants,  sent  up  from  New  York  to  take 
care  of  his  clothes,  but  what  other  business  I  did  not  learn. 

“  I  no\v  turned  to  take  a  view  of  the  executioner,  who  was  still  standing  by  one  of  the 


304 


ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


posts  of  the  gallows.  I  walked  nigh  enough  to  him  te  have  laid  my  hand  upon  his  shoul¬ 
der,  and  looked  him  directly  in  his  face.  He  appeared  to  be  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  his  beard  of  two  or  three  weeks’  growth,  and  his  whole  face  covered  with  what  ap¬ 
peared  to  me  to  be  blacking  taken  from  the  outside  of  a  greasy  pot.  A  more  frightful 
looking  being  I  never  beheld — his  whole  countenance  bespoke  him  to  be  a  fit  instrument 
for  the  business  he  had  been  doing.  Wishing  to  see  the  closing  of  the  whole  business,  I 
remained  upon  the  spot  until  scarce  twenty  persons  were  left,  hut  the  coffin  was  still  be¬ 
side  the  grave,  which  had  previously  been  dug.  I  now  returned  to  my  tent,  with  my 
mind  deeply  imbued  with  the  shocking  scene  I  had  been  called  to  witness.” 


ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

St.  Lawrence  county  was  taken  from  Oneida  in  1802  ;  distant 
from  New  York  350,  from  Albany  NW.  206  miles.  Greatest  length 
on  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  which  bounds  it  on  the  N.,  66  miles ; 
greatest  breadth  64.  This  county  is  larger  by  1,000  square  miles 
than  any  gther  in  the  state.  That  portion  of  it  bordering  upon  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  extending  30  or  40  miles  into  the  country,  is  agreeably 
diversified,  waving  in  gentle  swells  and  broad  valleys,  with  extensive 
tracts  of  champaign.  The  soil  is  warm,  rich,  and  productive,  and  equal 
to  any  of  the  uplands  of  the  state.  The  southeastern  part  is  broken 
and  mountainous.  These  mountains  abound  with  fine  iron  ore.  The 
county  is  comparatively  unsettled,  but  is  now  filling  up  rapidly.  Since 
1820,  the  population  has  more  than  trebled.  This  county  extends  75 
miles  along  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  many  large  streams,  with  their 
branches,  furnish  some  internal  navigation,  with  superabundance  of 
hydraulic  power.  The  St.  Lawrence  has  a  good  sloop  navigation 
from  Lake  Ontario  to  Ogdensburg.  From  Ogdensburg  to  Montreal, 
the  navigation  is  dangerous  on  account  of  the  rapids.  This  river  is 
studded  with  numberless  islands,  rendering  the  scenery  highly  pictur¬ 
esque  and  beautiful.  Wheat  is  raised  upon  the  new  lands,  but  there 
is  danger  of  its  being  winter-killed  in  the  long  and  almost  unmitigated 
frosts.  Rye,  grass,  and  all  the  summer  crops  flourish  luxuriantly  ; 
and  it  is  obvious  that  the  great  source  of  wealth  here  will  be  found  in 
grass  farming  and  the  culture  of  sheep.  The  county  is  divided  into 
25  towns  : 


Brasher, 

Hammond, 

Massena, 

Potsdam, 

Canton, 

Hermon, 

Morristown, 

Rossie, 

De  Kalb, 

Hopkinton, 

Norfolk, 

Russell, 

De  Peyster, 

Lawrence, 

Oswegatchie, 

Stockholm. 

Edwards, 

Lisbon, 

Parishville, 

Fowler, 

Louisville, 

Pierrepont, 

Governeur, 

Madrid, 

Pitcairn, 

Ogdensburg,  the  largest  place  in  the  county,  has  a  population  of 
2,555.  It  is  204  miles  N.  from  Albany,  130  from  Montreal,  120 
W.  from  Plattsburgh,  63  NE.  from  Sacketts  Harbor,  and  18  from 
Canton.  This  was  formerly  the  county  seat,  but  it  has  been  re- 


MAJOR  ANDRE, 

With  a  fac-simile  of  his  hand  writing. 


GEN.  MONTGOMERY, 
Killed  in  an  assault  on  Quebec,  Dec.  31st, 


ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY 


View  of  Ogdensburg. 


moved  to  Canton.  The  above  view  was  taken  on  the  bank  of  the  Oswe- 
gatchie  river,  near  the  ruins  of  the  old  barracks.  The  steeple  seen  on 
the  left  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church  ;  the  one  on  the  extreme 
right  the  old  courthouse  ;  the  academy  is  next  to  it ;  and  the  square 
steeple  is  that  of  the  Episcopal  denomination.  The  first  religious 
society  organized  was  the  Presbyterian  ;  they  held  their  meetings,  as 
far  back  as  1811,  in  the  old  courthouse.  In  1819,  they  erected  their 
first  church,  a  few  rods  southwest  of  where  the  present  stone  church 
now  stands.  There  are  here  1  Baptist,  1  Methodist,  1  Episcopal,  1 
Roman  Catholic,  and  1  Presbyterian  church,  besides  a  society  of 
Unitarians. 

The  proximity  of  the  town  to  the  Canada  line  made  it  an  import¬ 
ant  place  during  the  late  war,  and  the  scene  of  several  minor  military 
operations.  The  following  is  extracted  from  Thompson’s  History 
of  the  Late  War. 

In  retaliation  for  a  daring  exploit  performed  by  Capt.  Forsyth  of  the  rifle  regiment,  in  the 
destruction  of  an  immense  quantity  of  stores,  &c.,  collected  at  the  small  village  of  Ganano- 
que,  in  the  town  of  Leeds,  in  Canada,  “  the  enemy  determined  on  attacking  and  destroy, 
ing  the  town  of  Ogdensburg.  Opposite  to  this  is  situated  the  Canadian  village  of  Prescott, 
before  which  the  British  had  a  strong  line  of  breastworks.  On  the  2d  of  October,  1812, 
they  opened  a  heavy  cannonading  on  the  town  from  their  batteries,  and  continued  to  bom. 
bard  it  with  little  intermission  until  the  night  of  the  3d :  one  or  two  buildings  only  were 
injured.  On  Sunday,  the  4th,  having  prepared  forty  boats,  with  from  ten  to  fifteen  armed 
men  in  each,  they  advanced  with  six  pieces  of  artillery,  to  storm  the  town.  General  Brown 
commanded  at  Ogdensburg  in  person,  and  when  the  enemy  had  advanced  within  a  short 
•distance,  he  ordered  his  troops  to  open  a  warm  fire  upon  them.  The  British,  nevertheless, 
steadily  approached  the  shore,  and  kept  up  their  fire  for  two  hours  ;  during  which,  they  sus¬ 
tained  the  galling  fire  of  the  Americans,  until  one  of  their  boats  was  taken,  and  two  others 
so  shattered,  that  their  crews  were  obliged  to  abandon  them ;  they  then  relinquished  the 
assault  and  fled  to  Prescott.  There  has  been  no  engagement,  perhaps,  which  exhibited 
more  gallantry  on  both  sides.  In  this  attack,  Gen.  Brown  had  under  his  command  about 
400  men,  the  British  1000.” 

The  annexed  account  of  the  taking  of  this  place  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1813  is  extracted  from  the  same  source  as  the  above. 

39 


306 


ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


“  The  movements  of  the  enemy  at  Prescott  were  indicative  of  an  intention  to  attack  0 g 
densburg.  Colonel  Benedict  was  therefore  induced  to  call  out  his  regiment  ot  militia,  and 
arrangements  were  immediately  made  for  the  defence  of  the  place.  On  the  21st  of  Febru. 
ary,  the  enemy  appeared  before  it,  with  a  force  of  twelve  hundred  men,  and  succeeded  in 
driving  out  Captain  Forsyth  and  his  troops.  The  British  attacked  in  two  columns,  of  six 
hundred  men  each,  at  8  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and  were  commanded  by  Capt.  M'Donnell 
of  the  Glengary  light  infantry,  and  Colonel  Fraser  of  the  Canadian  militia.  The  American 
riflemen  and  militia  received  them  with  firmness,  and  contended  for  the  ground  upwards 
of  an  hour ;  when  the  superiority  of  numbers  compelled  them  to  abandon  it,  and  to  retreat 
to  Black  Lake,  nearly  nine  miles  from  Ogdensburg,  after  losing  twenty  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy,  from  the  deliberate  coolness  with  which  the  riflemen 
fired,  was  reputed  to  have  been  thrice  that  number.  The  British  account,  which  claimed 
the  capture  of  immense  stores,  none  of  which  had  ever  been  deposited  there,  admitted  the 
loss  of  five  distinguished  officers.  In  consequence  of  this  affair,  a  message  was  sent  by  the 
commandant  of  Fort  George,  to  Colonel  M'Feely,  the  commandant  of  Fort  Niagara,  in. 
forming  him  that  a  salute  would  be  fired  the  next  day  in  honor  of  the  capture  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  village.  Colonel  M'Feely  having  received  intelligence  in  the  course  of  the  same  even, 
ing,  of  the  capture  of  his  majesty’s  frigate  the  Java,  returned  the  message  to  the  British 
commandant,  by  communicating  to  him  his  intention  of  firing  a  salute,  at  the  same  hour 
from  Fort  Niagara,  in  celebration  of  this  brilliant  event.” 

The  following  additional  particulars  respecting  the  taking  of  Og¬ 
densburg  were  obtained  by  personal  conversation  with  q  resident  at 
that  time.  The  British  landed  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  village,  near 
some  barracks  occupied  by  a  detachment  of  militia  under  Captain 
Lytle,  which  he  evacuated  and  then  joined  Col.  Forsyth  at  the  fort. 
The  enemy  marched  up  through  Ford-street,  and  when  the  Ameri¬ 
cans  had  abandoned  the  fort,  they  crossed  over  on  the  ice  opposite 
to  the  Eagle  Hotel.  Besides  the  public  stores  destroyed  by  them, 
they  took  away  a  large  quantity  of  provisions,  &c.,  private  property, 
which  they  were  much  in  need  of,  but  for  which  they  afterward  paid 
full  price.  A  barn  is  now  standing  on  the  SE.  side  of  Ford-street, 
near  the  corner  of  Water-street,  where  holes  made  by  grape  shot 
fired  from  the  fort  are  still  to  be  seen.  The  Glengarian  regiment, 
which  was  in  the  attack,  was  quite  celebrated  during  the  military 
operations  on  the  frontier.  This  corps  were  from  the  county  of 
Glengary,  in  Upper  Canada.  Their  religion  was  Catholic,  and  they 
were  the  descendants  of  Scotch  Highlanders. 

The  following  is  a  view  of  Windmill  Point  and  ruins  in  its  vicinity. 
It  is  memorable  as  being  the  spot,  where,  during  the  recent  struggle 
in  Canada,  a  small  body  of  men,  under  the  unfortunate  Van  Schoultz, 
gallantly  defended  themselves  against  an  overpowering  force  of  Brit¬ 
ish  and  Canadians.  The  following  account  of  this  affair,  usually  termed 
the  “  Battle  of  Prescott,”  is  principally  drawn  from  a  work  recently 
published  by  E.  A.  Theller,  Esq.,  and  entitled  Canada  in  1837-8. 

Early  in  November,  1838,  the  patriots,  (so  called,)  who  had  secretly  rallied  in  clubs  in 
and  about  Syracuse,  Oswego,  Sacketts  Harbor,  Watertown,  Ogdensburg,  French  creek, 
and  at  other  points  on  or  near  the  American  line,  began  to  exhibit  an  intention  of  making  a 
fresh  demonstration  at  some  point  in  Upper  Canada.  About  the  10th,  two  schooners  were 
noticed  as  being  freighted  from  canal  boats,  which  had  come  up  the  Oswego  canal  under 
suspicious  circumstances,  and  to  sail  out  of  the  harbor  in  a  northern  direction.  On  the  12th, 
the  steamboat  United  States,  which  had  been  detained  in  port  by  a  heavy  gale,  sailed  for 
Sacketts  Harbor.  Here  she  took  aboard  about  250  patriots.  The  two  schooners  spoken 
of,  were  next  discovered  by  the  United  States,  lying  in  the  river  St.  Lawrence  ;  when 
Capt.  Van  Cleve  complied  with  the  request  of  a  passenger  of  respectable  appearance,  to 
take  them  in  tow ;  saying  they  were  loaded  with  merchandise  for  Ogdensburg,  which  he 


was  desirous  of  getting  into  port  the  next  morning.  Accordingly  the  schooners  were 
lashed  one  each  side  of  the  steamer.  The  boxes  and  barrels  on  their  decks,  with  just  men 
enough  in  sight  to  navigate  them,  exhibited  no  evidence  of  their  being  other  than  repre¬ 
sented  by  the  passenger.  The  captain  was  soon  undeceived,  by  armed  men  climbing  from 
the  schooners  on  to  his  boat,  to  the  number  of  some  200,  and  he  determined  to  lay  at  Mor¬ 
ristown,  10  miles  above  Ogdensburg,  and  give  notice  to  the  authorities.  On  arriving  at  that 
neighborhood,  the  patriots,  after  transferring  about  100  of  the  boat’s  passengers,  unfastened 
their  vessels,  and  were  found  the  next  morning  at  anchor  in  the  river,  between  Ogdensburg 
and  Prescott,  filled  with  armed  men.  Both  towns  were  now  the  scene  of  excitement;  for 
it  was  evident  that  Fort  Wellington  wras  the  point  of  attack,  and  both  shores  were  soon 
thronged  with  citizens.  The  Experiment,  a  British  armed  steamboat,  was  lying  at  the 
Prescott  wharf,  and  by  this  time  the  United  States  had  arrived  at  Ogdensburg.  On  her 
arrival,  the  people,  with  loud  cheers,  rushed  on  board  and  went  to  the  relief  of  one  of  the 
schooners  which  by  accident  had  got  aground  on  the  shoal  in  the  river.  Not  succeeding  in 
reaching  her,  they  returned  to  the  boat  for  a  longer  hawser.  As  she  went  out  again,  the 
Experiment  came  out  and  fired  two  shots,  but  without  effect ;  and  she  passed  down  the 
river  about  a  mile  to  Windmill  Point,  to  the  other  scjiooner,  which  had  succeeded  in  land¬ 
ing  her  forces,  and  was  returning  to  take  off  the  men  from  the  grounded  vessel.  The  Ex¬ 
periment  followed  her,  and  when  the  United  States  was  covering  her  on  her  way  up,  kept 
up  an  irregular  fire  upon  both,  without  effect.  The  United  States  having  seen  the  schooner 
she  was  protecting  anchored  under  the  Ogdensburg  shore,  returned  again  to  Windmill 
Point,  where  William  Johnson  with  small  boats  landed  110  men.  Meantime  the  American 
steam  ferry-boat,  Paul  Pry,  ran  over  to  the  stranded  vessel,  and  hauled  her  off  under  a  brisk 
fire  from  the  Experiment,  which  the  former  returned  with  small-arms,  killing  7  of  the  Ex¬ 
periment’s  men,  but  losing  none.  The  United  States  was  now  returning,  and  again  encoun¬ 
tered  the  fire  of  the  Experiment,  breaking  glass  lights  and  doing  other  damage.  Those  who 
had  remained  after  the  disembarkation,  about  25  in  number,  stood  upon  the  promenade 
deck  and  cheered  the  discharges  as  they  came.  During  this,  a  shot  passing  through  the 
wheel-house,  killed  Mr.  Solomon  Foster,  a  young  man,  the  helmsman  of  the  boat.  As  the 
United  States  now  went  into  port,  she  was  surrendered  to  her  owners,  and  immediately 
seized  by  the  United  States  authorities,  which  completed  the  forenoon’s  operations. 

“  Commodore  ‘  Bill  Johnson’  who  had  come  on  to  Ogdensburg  on  the  return  of  the 
United  States,  addressed  ‘the  patriots’  present,  urging  and  beseeching  them  to  go  with  him, 
and  join  those  who  had  crossed.  He  succeeded  in  crossing  with  some,  in  one  of  the 
schooners,  at  two  or  three  different  times ;  whilst  most  of  the  afternoon  and  evening  was 
occupied  at  Windmill  Point,  by  the  patriots,  fortifying  their  position,  and  preparing  for  the 
contest.  They  had  taken  possession  of  the  windmill,  and  other  large  stone  buildings,  to  the 
number  of  about  200,  which  were  increased  by  accessions  from  the  small  boats  crossing 
over  in  the  evening.  It  was  seen  that  at  Fort  Wellington  the  British  were  also  engaged 
in  making  preparations ;  but  towards  night  there  was  scarcely  a  living  soul  seen  in  the 
streets  of  Prescott.  There  was  no  fighting  that  night.  During  the  evening  the  steamboat 


*  The  authors  are  indebted  for  the  above  view  to  Mr.  Ellis,  artist,  of  Ogdensburg. 


308 


ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Telegraph,  with  Col.  Worth,  of  the  United  States  army,  had  arrived,  accompanied  by  two 
companies  of  United  States  troops,  and  by  Mr.  Garrow,  a  United  States  marshal,  who 
immediately  took  into  custody  all  the  craft  which  had  been  employed  by  the  patriots,  in¬ 
cluding  the  United  States,  the  two  schooners,  and  the  Paul  Pry  ;  and  made  effectual 
arrangements  to  cut  off  all  further  supplies  of  men,  arms,  or  provisions  from  the  patriot 
camp  ;  after  which,  all  remained  quiet  during  the  night,  except  the  report  of  cannon  at 
long  intervals.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  British  armed  steamers  Cobourg 
and  Traveller,  had  arrived  at  Prescott  with  troops  ;  and  at  about  7  o’clock,  they,  together 
with  the  Experiment,  opened  a  discharge  of  cannon,  and  commenced  throwing  bombs  at 
the  patriots  at  the  windmill,  who  discharged  field-pieces  from  their  battery  on  shore  in 
return.  At  about  8  o’clock,  a  line  of  fire  blazed  along  the  summit  of  the  nill,  in  the  rear 
of  the  windmill,  for  about  80  or  100  rods,  and  the  crack  of  the  rifles  and  muskets  made 
one  continuous  roar.  It  appears  that  by  the  time  the  firing  commenced  in  the  morning, 
there  were  but  180  of  those  who  had  crossed  left  at  Windmill  Point  ;  and  that  when  they 
were  attacked  by  land,  in  rear  of  their  position,  some  52  of  these  fled,  leaving  only  128  to 
face  from  600  to  800  British  regulars  and  volunteers.  After  a  fight  of  about  an  hour,  ac¬ 
cording  to  Theller's  account,  the  British  were  driven  back  into  their  fort  with  a  loss,  it  is 
supposed,  of  about  100  killed  and  many  wounded.  The  patriots  lost  5  men  and  13 
wounded.  On  the  morning  of  the  14th  little  was  done,  and  the  British  having  sent  a  flag 
of  truce  for  permission  to  bury  the  dead,  the  request  was  granted.  Afterward,  when  the 
patriots  sent  a  flag,  the  bearer  was  shot.  On  the  15th,  the  British  received  a  reinforce¬ 
ment  of  400  regulars,  with  cannon  and  gun-boats,  by  steamboats  from  Kingston,  and  vol¬ 
unteers  numbering  in  all  about  2,000  ;  who  surrounded  the  mill  by  their  gun-boats  and 
steamers  on  the  river,  and  by  stationing  cannon  and  troops  on  land  ;  and  keeping  up  a 
continual  cannonading  until  Friday  evening,  when  the  patriots  surrendered.  At  5  o’clock 
the  same  afternoon,  a  white  flag  was  displayed  from  the  mill,  but  no  attention  being  paid 
to  it,  it  was  finally  fastened  on  the  outside  ;  then  3  or  4  flags  were  sent  out,  and  the  bear¬ 
ers  shot  down  as  soon  as  seen.  Immediately  after  the  surrender,  the  British  burnt  four 
dwellings  and  two  barns  in  the  vicinity  of  the  windmill.  According  to  the  account  of 
Theller,  36  patriots  were  killed,  2  escaped,  and  90  were  made  prisoners  ;  and  of  the  Brit¬ 
ish  about  150  men  were  killed  and  20  officers,  among  whom  was  Capt.  Drummond.  The 
patriots  were  commanded  by  Van  Schoultz,  a  Polander,  who  had  fought  for  the  freedom 
of  his  native  land,  and  witnessed  her  expiring  agonies  at  ill-fated  Warsaw.  When  driven 
to  desperation,  he  opposed  the  offering  to  the  enemy  the  flag  of  truce,  and  besought  his 
men  to  rush  upon  the  enemy  and  die  in  the  contest ;  but  their  ammunition  and  provisions 
were  exhausted,  and  a  five  days’  fatigue  in  active  night  and  day  defence  had  worn  them 
out  and  made  them  indifferent  to  their  fate.  At  the  trials,  Van  Schoultz  pleaded  guilty 
and  was  sentenced  to  death,  and  was  executed  Dec.  9th,  1838,  aged  31.  Col.  Dorephus 
Abbey,  of  Watertown,  Jefferson  county;  Col.  Martin  Woodruff,  of  Salina,  Onondaga 
county,  and  Daniel  George,  and  others,  suffered  the  same  fate  with  Van  Schoultz.  A 
number  of  others  were  finally  released,  while  the  others  were  sentenced  to  transportation, 
and,  with  those  in  a  like  situation  who  had  been  respited  after  their  trials,  and  with 
Messrs.  John  G.  Parker,  Watson,  and  others,  to  the  number  of  23,  were  sent  to  England, 
and  from  thence,  in  company  with  11  convicted  felons,  were  transported  to  Van  Diemen’s 
Land.” 

The  village  of  Canton,  18  miles  from  Ogdensburg,  on  the  Grasse 
river,  was  made  the  county  seat  in  1828,  previous  to  which  time  the 
courts  were  holden  at  Ogdensburg.  The  village  contains  the  county 
buildings,  an  academy,  5  churches,  and  about  150  dwellings.  This 
village  was  originally  called  “  Foot’s  Falls,”  from  Mr.  Stillman  Foot, 
who  came  here  in  the  winter  of  1799,  and  bought  a  mile  square,  com¬ 
prising  in  its  limits  the  site  of  the  village. 

The  village  of  Potsdam,  about  10  miles  NE.  from  Canton,  is 
pleasantly  situated  at  the  falls  of  the  Racket  river,  and  contains  sev¬ 
eral  churches,  a  flourishing  academy,  numbering  about  150  pupils, 
and  about  130  dwellings. 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


309 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


Saratoga  county  was  taken  from  Albany  in  1791  ;  greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  47,  and  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  30  miles.  Centrally 
distant  from  Albany  36  miles.  “  Its  name  is  supposed  to  be  a  cor¬ 
ruption  of  the  Indian  word  Sah-rah-ka,  or  the  ‘  side  hill.’  The  great¬ 
er  part  of  the  lands  in  this  tract  were  originally  granted  by  the  English 
crown  to  a  company  of  13  individuals,  by  the  title  of  the  patent  of 
Kayaderosseras.  Smaller  portions  were  included  in  other  patents. 
Thus  Van  Schaick’s,  of  an  earlier  date,  included  the  town  of  Water¬ 
ford  and  adjacent  country.  The  Saratoga  patent  embraced  six  miles 
square  on  the  Hudson  river  north,  of  Van  Schaick’s;  and  the  apple 
patent,  located  on  the  Mohawk,  extended  ‘  three  miles  back  into  the 
woods,’  towards  Ballston  Lake.  The  first  recorded  grant  of  lands  in 
the  Kayaderosseras  patent  was  made  in  August,  1702.  A  good  por¬ 
tion  of  the  land  is  now  held  under  a  rent  charge  of  from  15  to  20 
cents  an  acre,  derived  originally  from  the  above  patent.  Settlements 
were  made  in  1715  under  that  patent,  and  some  probably  earlier, 
along  the  Hudson,  upon  the  patents  of  Van  Schaick  and  Saratoga  ; 
but  there  was  then  none  north  of  Fish  creek,  now  Schuylersville,  and 
few  between  that  and  the  Mohawk.  Until  the  conquest  of  Canada  by 
the  English,  settlements  were  slowly  made.  After  this,  although  rap¬ 
idly  formed,  they  were  confined  some  years  to  the  banks  of  the  Hud¬ 
son  and  Mohawk.” 

The  surface  of  the  county  presents  a  broad  diversity,  having  the 
Kayaderosseras  and  Palmertown  mountains  in  the  northwest,  and  in 
the  southeast,  sandy  plains,  generally  level,  and  along  the  Hudson 
and  some  of  the  smaller  streams,  extensive  tracts  of  rich  alluvion. 
There  are  several  small  lakes,  the  largest  of  which  are  Saratoga, 
Ballston,  or  the  Long  Lake,  Round  Lake,  Owl  Pond,  &c.  This 
county  is  rich  in  historical  incident.  It  has  20  towns,  viz. : 


Ballston,  Edinburg, 

Charlton,  Galway, 

Clifton  Park,  Greenfield, 
Corinth,  Hadley, 

Day,  Halfmoon, 


Malta,  Saratoga, 

Milton,  Saratoga  Springs, 

Moreau,  •  Stillwater, 

Northumberland,  Waterford, 
Providence,  Wilton. 


The  village  of  Ballston  Spa,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Saratoga  county, 
is  30  miles  N.  from  Albany,  and  7  southwest  from  Saratoga  Springs. 
The  village  is  situated  in  a  valley  surrounded  by  hills,  upon  a  branch 
of  the  Kayaderosseras  creek,  immediately  around  the  mineral  springs 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town  of  Milton.  The  village  contains 
about  180  dwellings,  3  churches,  a  large  courthouse  of  brick,  and 
other  county  buildings,  2  newspaper  printing  offices,  a  number  of  ho¬ 
tels,  of  which  the  Sans  Souci  is  the  most  prominent.  This  structure 
is  of  wood,  having  a  front  of  160  feet,  and  wings  of  150  feet,  and  is 
three  stories  high. 


310 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


“  The  mineral  springs  from  which  this  village  derives  its  importance 
and  celebrity,  were  discovered  in  1767.  In  1772,  Mr.  Douglass  erect¬ 
ed  a  small  log-house  here  for  the  accommodation  of  visiters.  During 
the  revolutionary  war  settlements  in  this  part  of  the  country  were  sus¬ 
pended,  but  about  1790  Mr.  Douglass  enlarged  his  accommodations. 
In  1804,  Nicholas  Low,  Esq.,  raised  the  well-known  Sans  Souci  hotel. 
In  1807,  several  other  springs,  and  in  1817,  four  springs  of  differ¬ 
ent  qualities,  were  found  near  the  great  manufactory  built  by  Mr. 
Low. 

“  The  spring  in  the  rear  of  the  Sans  Souci,  and  that  in  the  rear  of 
the  village  hotel,  and  the  original  spring  at  the  west  of  the  village,  con¬ 
tain,  as  essential  ingredients,  the  carbonates  of  soda,  of  lime,  iron,  and 
magnesia ;  the  tonic  qualities  of  the  iron,  and  the  sparkling  and  enli¬ 
vening  influence  of  the  fixed  air  that  they  possess  in  an  extraordinary 
degree,  have  a  wonderful  effect  upon  enervated,  bilious,  and  debilitated 
constitutions. 

“The  use  of  the  mineral  waters  here  and  at  Saratoga  is  especially 
beneficial  in  all  those  affections  termed  bilious  and  dyspeptic,  in  cal¬ 
culous  and  nephritic  complaints,  in  chronic  rheumatism,  gout,  in  ulcers 
and  cutaneous  disorders,  scrofula,  in  mercurial  diseases  and  strumous 
affections,  in  recent  dropsy,  paralysis,  chlorosis,  &c.” 

The  village  of  Saratoga  Springs  is  181  miles  from  New  York,  36| 
from  Albany,  and  6^  from  Ballston  Spa.  It  is  located  in  a  fertile 
country,  and  contains  6  churches,  several  literary  institutions,  and  about 
2,000  inhabitants.  This  place  derives  its  attractions  from  its  medicinal 
springs.  These  are  situated  on  the  margin  of  a  vale,  bordering  the 
village  on  the  east,  and  are  the  continuation  of  a  chain  of  springs  dis¬ 
covering  themselves  about  12  miles  to  the  south,  in  the  town  of  Balls¬ 
ton.  The  springs  in  this  vicinity  are  18  or  20  in  number,  the  principal 
of  which  are  the  Congress,  the  Iodine  or  Walton,  Putnam’s,  the  Mon¬ 
roe,  the  Hamilton,  the  Flat  Rock,  the  High  Rock,  the  Columbian,  and 
the  Washington.  A  new  spring  has  lately  been  discovered,  whose 
waters  are  gaining  high  favor  with  the  public,  and  are  said  to  be  bene¬ 
ficial  in  consumption.  The  hotels  in  this  place  are  numerous,  and 
some  of  them  truly  elegant,  built  in  good  taste,  with  spacious  piazzas, 
and  yards  ornamented  with  shrubbery.  The  facility  with  which  it  is 
visited,  by  railroads  from  Albany  and  Troy,  with  other  thoroughfares, 
together  with  the  numerous  attractions  of  the  place,  has  rendered 
Saratoga  the  summer  resort  of  thousands  from  all  parts  of  our  wide¬ 
spread  country. 

The  Saratoga  and  Schenectady  railroad  extends  from  Schenecta¬ 
dy  to  this  place,  a  distance  of  2£  miles  ;  running  through  the  village  of 
Ballston  Spa,  where  it  forms  a  junction  with  the  Rensselaer  and  Sara¬ 
toga  railroad,  extending  to  the  city  of  Troy.  It  was  opened  for  public 
use  in  July,  1832. 

The  town  of  Saratoga  is  distinguished  in  the  history  of  the  Amei’i- 
can  revolution  as  being  the  place  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 
Schuylerville,  which  is  the  principal  village  in  the  town,  lies  on  the 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


311 


Champlain  canal  near  the  mouth  of  Fish  creek,  which  here  flows  into 
the  Hudson,  and  consists  of  about  100  dwellings,  3  churches — 1  Dutch 
Reformed,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Methodist — and  an  academy,  with  several 
mills  and  factories. 


Schuyler  mansion-house,  Schuylerville. 

The  above  is  a  view  of  the  mansion  of  the  late  Gen.  Schuyler,  in 
Schuylerville,  which  was  built  a  short  time  after  his  house  and  mills 
at  this  place  were  destroyed  by  the  army  under  General  Burgoyne 
in  1777.  This  dwelling,  the  residence  of  George  Strover,  Esq.,  is  a 
short  distance  south  of  the  spot  where  Burgoyne  surrendered  his 
sword  tb  General  Gates.  After  the  battle  at  Stillwater,  Oct.  7th,  he 
made  an  attempt  to  effect  his  retreat  back  to  Fort  Edward,  but  was 
unable  to  proceed  any  further  than  the  mouth  of  Fish  creek,  where 
he  was  hemmed  in  by  the  American  forces.  The  following  account 
relative  to  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  is  from  the  2d  volume  of  Al¬ 
len’s  American  Revolution : — 

“  Previous  to  the  action  of  the  7th,  General  Gates,  anticipating  the  retreat  of  the  enemy, 
had  ordered  Brigadier  General  Fellows,  with  1,300  men,  to  cross  the  river,  and  take  post 
on  the  heights  opposite  the  Saratoga  ford,  supposing  that  he  might  be  able  to  reinforce  him 
before  Burgoyne  could  reach  the  place.  But  the  retreat  of  the  British  army  being  earlier 
than  he  expected,  and  the  circumstances  before  related  preventing  him  from  pursuing  imme¬ 
diately  with  the  main  army,  or  sending  off  any  considerable  detachment,  General  Fellows 
was  placed  in  a  critical  situation,  and  nothing  saved  his  detachment  from  destruction  or 
capture,  but  the  very  slow  movements  of  Burgoyne,  occasioned  by  a  heavy  rain  during  the 
night  of  the  8th,  and  the  badness  of  the  roads,  which  compelled  him  to  halt  at  Davocote, 
so  that  he  did  not  reach  Saratoga  until  the  morning  of  the  9th.  By  this  time  General  Fel¬ 
lows  had  received  orders  to  recross  the  river  and  endeavor  to  oppose  their  passage,  which 
,  he  did  just  as  the  front  of  the  British  army  entered  Saratoga,  and  in  time  to  post  himself 
ad  rantageously  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river.  On  the  evening  before,  his  camp  was 
so  entirely  unguarded,  that  Lieutenant-colonel  Southerland,  who  had  been  sent  forward 
by  Burgoyne  to  reconnoitre,  marched  around  it  without  meeting  with  a  sentinel,  and  was 
so  strongly  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  could  surprise  him,  that  he  solicited  per¬ 
mission  to  attack  him  with  his  single  regiment ;  and  it  was  perhaps  fortunate  for  General 
Fellows  that  Burgoyne  refused. 

“  In  the  mean  time  several  other  bodies  of  militia  were  posted,  to  intercept  the  retreat 
of  Burgoyne,  in  various  directions,  and  one  detachment  was  ordered  to  march  immediately 
to  Fort  Edward,  and  take  possession  before  any  part  of  Burgoyne’s  troops  could  reach  it. 
A  rain  on  the  10th  prevented  General  Gates  from  marching  until  the  afternoon.  When 
the  front  of  the  army  reached  Saratoga,  about  4  o’clock,  the  British  were  encamped  on  the 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


312 


heights  beyond  the  Fishkill,  [Fish  creek :]  their  boats  lay  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  and  a 
fatigue  party  were  at  work  in  removing  the  baggage  from  the  creek  to  the  heights.  Ge¬ 
neral  Fellows  with  his  corps  were  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  with  a  couple  of  small 
field-pieces  on  the  plain,  playing  upon  the  enemy’s  fatigue  party.  General  Gates  on  his 
arrival  posted  the  army  in  several  lines  on  the  heights,  about  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  Fish- 
kill,  with  Colonel  Morgan’s  corps  in  front.  Under  the  idea  that  the  enemy  would  retreat 
in  the  night,  General  Gates  gave  orders  that  the  army  should  advance  at  reveillee  in  the 
morning  of  the  1 1th.  A  small  detachment  had  been  sent  off  by  Burgoyne  to  possess  them¬ 
selves  of  Fort  Edward,  but  finding  it  occupied  by  the  Americans,  had  returned  to  camp  : 
the  movement  of  this  detachment  had  given  rise  to  the  information  which  deceived  Gene¬ 
ral  Gates,  that  the  whole  British  army  had  moved  off,  leaving  a  small  guard  only  in  the 
camp  to  take  care  of  the  baggage  and  stores.  Upon  this  intelligence  it  was  determined  to 
attack  the  camp  early  in  the  morning ;  and  Brigadier-generals  Nixon  and  Glover  were 
ordered  to  cross  the  creek  with  their  brigades  for  this  purpose. 

“  Colonel  Morgan  advancing  with  his  corps  at  daylight  agreeably  to  orders,  fell  in  with 
the  enemy’s  picket,  by  whom  he  was  fired  upon,  and  lost  a  lieutenant  and  several  privates. 
This  induced  him  to  suppose  that  the  enemy  had  not  moved  as  supposed,  in  which  case  his 
situation  would  be  extremely  critical,  as  the  fog  was  so  thick  that  nothing  could  be  seen  at 
the  distance  of  twenty  yards ;  a  winding  creek  was  in  his  rear,  and  he  was  unacquainted 
with  the  grounds.  In  this  dilemma  he  was  met  by  the  Deputy  Adjutant-general,  Colonel 
Wilkinson,  who  had  been  sent  out  by  the  general  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitring.  Wil¬ 
kinson  returned  immediately  to  communicate  this  intelligence  to  the  general,  and  Patter¬ 
son’s  and  Learned’s  brigades,  both  under  the  command  of  the  latter,  were  sent  to  the  sup¬ 
port  of  Morgan.  In  the  mean  time  the  whole  army  had  advanced  as  far  as  the  ridge 
between  the  church  and  General  Schuyler’s  house,  where  they  halted.  Generals  Nixon 
and  Glover  were  in  advance,  marching  according  to  orders  to  the  attack  of  the  camp. 
Nixon  had  already  crossed  the  creek,  and  Glover  was  preparing  to  follow  him,  when  a  de¬ 
serter  from  the  enemy  was  observed  fording  the  creek,  from  whom  information  was  received 
that  Burgoyne  with  his  whole  army  was  still  in  his  camp.  This  was  confirmed  by  the 
capture  of  a  reconnoitring  party  of  a  subaltern  and  35  men,  by  the  advance  guard  of  50 
under  Captain  Goodale  of  Putnam’s  regiment,  who  discovered  them  through  the  fog  just  as 
he  reached  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  making  a  resolute  charge  upon  them,  took  them 
without  firing  a  gun.  The  general  was  at  this  time  a  mile  in  the  rear,  and  before  this 
intelligence  could  be  communicated  to  him,  and  orders  received  for  the  two  brigades  to 
desist  and  recross  the  river,  the  fog  cleared  up,  and  exposed  to  view  the  whole  British  army 
under  arms.  A  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  small-arms  was  immediately  opened  upon  Nix¬ 
on’s  brigade,  which  was  in  advance,  and  they  retreated  in  considerable  disorder  across  the 
creek,  with  a  trifling  loss,  and  resumed  their  position. 

“  General  Learned  had  in  the  mean  time  reached  Morgan’s  corps  with  his  two  brigades, 
and  was  advancing  rapidly  to  the  attack,  in  obedience  to  a  standing  order  which  had  been 
issued  the  day  before,  4  That  in  case  of  an  attack  against  any  point,  whether  front,  flank  or 
rear,  the  troops  are  to  fall  on  the  enemy  at  all  quarters.’  He  had  arrived  within  200  yards 
of  Burgoyne’s  strongest  post,  and  in  a  few  minutes  more  would  have  been  engaged  under 
great  disadvantages,  when  Colonel  Wilkinson  reached  him  with  intelligence  that  our  right 
had  given  way,  and  that  it  would  be  prudent  for  him  to  retreat.  Being  without  authority 
from  the  general  to  order  it,  the  brave  old  general  hesitated  to  obey,  in  opposition  to  the 
standing  order,  until  Lieutenant-colonels  Brooks  and  Tupper  and  some  other  officers  com¬ 
ing  up,  a  sort  of  council  was  held,  and  the  proposition  to  retreat  was  approved.  The  mo¬ 
ment  they  turned  their  backs,  the  enemy,  who  had  been  calmly  expecting  their  advance, 
opened  a  fire  upon  them  which  was  continued  until  they  were  masked  by  the  wood.  They 
retreated  about  half  a  mile,  with  Morgan  on  their  left,  and  encamped  in  a  strong  position, 
which  they  held  until  the  surrender  of  the  British  army.” 

On  the  14th  of  October,  Gen.  Burgoyne  sent  Major  Kingston  to 
the  head-quarters  of  Gen.  Gates  with  a  proposition  for  “  a  cessation 
of  arms,  during  the  time  necessary  to  communicate  the  preliminary 
terms,  by  which  in  any  extremity  he  and  the  army  mean  to  abide.” 
Gen.  Gates  had  already  prepared  *a  schedule  of  the  terms  upon  which 
he  was  willing  to  treat.  This  schedule  evinced  that  he  was  well  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  distresses  of  the  British,  and  was  drawn  up  in  terms 
of  extreme  liberality.  To  the  9th  article  of  Gen.  Burgoyne’s  propo¬ 
sition,  Gen.  Gates  affixed  the  following  answer : 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


313 


“  ‘  The  capitulation  to  be  finished  by  2  o’clock,  this  day,  the  15th,  and  the  troops  march 
from  their  encampment  at  5,  and  be  in  readiness  to  move  towards  Boston  to-morrow  morn¬ 
ing.’  These  preliminary  articles  and  their  answers  being  sent  to  General  Burgoyne,  pro¬ 
duced  the  immediate  return  of  his  messenger  with  the  following  note.  *  The  eight  first 
preliminary  articles  of  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne’s  proposals,  and  the  2d,  3d,  and  4th 
of  those  of  Major-general  Gates  of  yesterday,  being  agreed  to,  the  formation  of  the  pro¬ 
posed  treaty  is  out  of  dispute,  but  the  several  subordinate  articles  and  regulations  necessa¬ 
rily  springing  from  these  preliminaries,  and  requiring  explanations  and  precision,  between 
the  parties,  before  a  definitive  treaty  can  be  safely  executed,  a  longer  time  than  that  men¬ 
tioned  by  General  Gates  in  his  answer  to  the  9th  article,  becomes  indispensably  necessary. 
Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  is  willing  to  appoint  two  officers  immediately  to  meet  two 
others  from  Major-general  Gates  to  propound,  discuss,  and  settle  those  subordinate  articles, 
in  order  that  the  treaty  in  due  form  may  be  executed  as  soon  as  possible.’  ” 

This  meeting  took  place  on  the  afternoon  of  the  15th,  and  the 
parties  mutually  signed  articles  of  capitulation,  or  convention ,  as  Gen. 
Burgoyne  wished  to  have  it  designated.  A  copy  of  the  convention 
was  to  be  signed  by  Gen.  Burgoyne  and  delivered  the  next  morning. 
The  following  are  the  articles  of  convention. 

Articles  of  Convention  between  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  and  Major-general  Gates. 

“  1st.  The  troops  under  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  to  march  out  of  their  camp  with 
the  honors  of  war,  and  the  artillery  of  the  entrenchments,  to  the  verge  of  the  river  where 
the  old  fort  stood,  where  the  arms  and  artillery  are  to  be  left ;  the  arms  to  be  piled  by  word 
of  command  from  their  own  officers. 

“  2d.  A  free  passage  to  be  granted  to  the  army  under  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  to 
Great  Britain,  on  condition  of  not  serving  again  in  North  America  during  the  present  con¬ 
test  ;  and  the  port  of  Boston  is  assigned  for  the  entry  of  transports  to  receive  the  troops, 
whenever  General  Howe  shall  so  order. 

“  3d.  Should  any  cartel  take  place,  by  which  the  army  under  General  Burgoyne,  or  any 
part  of  it,  may  be  exchanged,  the  foregoing  article  to  be  void  as  far  as  such  exchange  shall 
be  made. 

“  4th.  The  army  under  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne,  to  march  to  Massachusetts  Bay, 
by  the  easiest,  most  expeditious,  and  convenient  route ;  and  to  be  quartered  in,  near,  or  as 
convenient  as  possible  to  Boston,  that  the  march  of  the  troops  may  not  be  delayed,  when 
the  transports  arrive  to  receive  them. 

“  5th.  The  troops  to  be  supplied  on  their  march,  and  during  their  being  in  quarters,  with 
provisions,  by  General  Gates’  orders,  at  the  same  rate  of  rations  as  the  troops  of  his  own 
army ;  and  if  possible  the  officers’  horses  and  cattle  are  to  be  supplied  with  forage  at  the 
usual  rates. 

“  6th.  All  officers  to  retain  their  carriages,  batt-horses  and  other  cattle,  and  no  baggage 
to  be  molested  or  searched ;  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  giving  his  honor  that  there  are 
no  public  stores  secreted  therein.  Major-general  Gates  will  of  course  take  the  necessary 
measures  for  the  due  performance  of  this  article.  Should  any  carriages  be  wanted  during 
the  march,  for  the  transportation  of  officers’  baggage,  they  are,  if  possible,  to  be  supplied  by 
the  country  at  the  usual  rates. 

“  7th.  Upon  the  march,  and  during  the  time  the  army  shall  remain  in  quarters  in  Massa¬ 
chusetts  Bay,  the  officers  are  not  as  far  as  circumstances  will  admit  to  be  separated  from 
their  men.  The  officers  are  to  be  quartered  according  to  rank,  and  are  not  to  be  hindered 
from  assembling  their  men  for  roll-call  and  other  necessary  purposes  of  regularity. 

“  8th.  All  corps  whatever  of  General  Burgoyne’s  army,  whether  composed  of  sailors, 
batteauxmen,  artificers,  drivers,  independent  companies,  and  followers  of  the  army,  of 
whatever  country,  shall  be  included  in  the  fullest  sense  and  utmost  extent  in  the  above  ar¬ 
ticles,  and  comprehended  in  every  respect  as  British  subjects. 

“  9th.  All  Canadians,  and  persons  belonging  to  the  Canadian  establishment,  consisting 
of  sailors,  batteauxmen,  artificers,  drivers,  independent  companies,  and  many  other  follow¬ 
ers  of  the  army,  who  come  under  no  particular  description,  are  to  be  permitted  to  return 
there  ;  they  are  to  be  conducted  immediately  by  the  shortest  route  to  the  first  British  post 
on  Lake  George,  are  to  be  supplied  with  provisions  in  the  same  manner  as  the  other  troops, 
and  are  to  be  bound  by  the  same  condition  of  not  serving  during  the  present  contest  in 
North  America. 

“  10th.  Passports  to  be  immediately  granted  for  three  officers  not  exceeding  the  rank  of 
captains,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne,  to  carry  despatches  to 

40 


314 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


Sir  William  Howe,  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  and  to  Great  Britain,  by  the  way  of  New  York  ,  and 
Major-general  Gates  engages  the  public  faith,  that  these  despatches  shall  not  be  opened. 
These  officers  are  to  set  out  immediately  after  receiving  their  despatches,  and  are  to  travel 
the  shortest  route,  and  in  the  most  expeditious  manner. 

“11th.  During  the  stay  of  the  troops  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  the  officers  are  to  be  ad¬ 
mitted  on  parole,  and  are  to  be  allowed  to  wear  their  side-arms. 

“  12.  Should  the  army  under  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  find  it  necessary  to  send  for 
their  clothing  and  other  baggage  to  Canada,  they  are  to  be  permitted  to  do  it  in  the  most 
convenient  manner,  and  the  necessary  passports  granted  for  that  purpose. 

“  13.  These  articles  are  to  be  mutually  signed  and  exchanged  to-morrow  morning,  at  9 
o’clock,  and  the  troops  under  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  are  to  march  out  of  their  entrench¬ 
ments  at  3  o’clock  in  the  afternoon. 


“  Saratoga,  Oct.  16th,  1777. 


(Signed)  “  Horatio  Gates,  Major-general. 
(Signed)  “  J.  Burgoyne,  Lieutenant-general. 


“  To  prevent  any  doubts  that  might  arise  from  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne’s  name  not 
being  mentioned  in  the  above  treaty,  Major-general  Gates  hereby  declares,  that  he  is  un¬ 
derstood  to  be  comprehended  in  it,  as  fully  as  if  his  name  had  been  specifically  mentioned. 

“  Horatio  Gates.” 


“  The  brass  artillery  captured  from  Burgoyne  at  various  times  during  the  campaign, 
amounted  to  42  pieces,  constituting  one  of  the  most  elegant  trains  ever  brought  into  the 
field  ;  5,000  stand  of  arms,  6,000  dozen  of  cartridges  ;  and  a  number  of  ammunition  wagons, 
travelling  forges,  shot,  carcasses,  shells,  &c.,  also  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans. 
The  whole  number  of  troops  surrendered  by  the  convention  amounted  to  5,763,  which 
added  to  the  number  killed,  wounded,  and  captured,  in  the  several  actions  previous  to  the 
17th  October,  amounting  to  near  5,000,  makes  Burgoyne’s  total  loss  of  upwards  of  ten 
thousand  men. 

“  On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  troops  of  Burgoyne  were  marched  out  of  their  camp  to 
the  plain  near  the  river,  where  their  arms  were  deposited ;  and  the  victorious  Americans 
took  possession  of  their  lines.” 


The  annexed  cut  is  a  copy 
of  the  signature  of  General 
Burgoyne,  attached  to  the 
articles  of  the  convention 
now  in  possession  of  the 
New  York  Historical  So¬ 
ciety. 


Facsimile  of  Gen.  Burgoyne' s  signature. 

General  Wilkinson’s  account  of  the  interview  between  Gates  and 
Burgoyne  on  the  field  of  surrender  is  interesting. 

“  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  17th,  I  visited  General  Burgoyne  in  his  camp,  and  accom¬ 
panied  him  to  the  ground,  where  his  army  was  to  lay  down  their  arms,  from  whence  we 
rode  to  the  bank  of  the  Hudson  river,  which  he  surveyed  with  attention,  and  asked  me 
whether  it  was  not  fordable.  1  Certainly,  sir ;  but  do  you  observe  the  people  on  the  oppo¬ 
site  shore  ?’  ‘  Yes,’  replied  he,  *  I  have  seen  them  too  long.’  He  then  proposed  to  be  in¬ 

troduced  to  General  Gates,  and  we  crossed  the  Fishkill,  and  proceeded  to  head-quarters, 
General  Burgoyne  in  front,  with  his  adjutant-general  Kingston,  and  his  aids-de-camp  Cap¬ 
tain  Lord  Petersham,  and  Lieutenant  Wilford  behind  him ;  then  followed  Major-general 
Philips,  the  Baron  Reidesel,  and  the  other  general  officers,  and  their  suites,  according  to 
rank.  General  Gates,  advised  of  Burgoyne’s  approach,  met  him  at  the  head  of  his  camp, 
Burgoyne  in  a  rich  royal  uniform,  and  Gates  in  a  plain  blue  frock ;  when  they  had  ap¬ 
proached  nearly  within  sword’s  length,  they  reined  up,  and  halted.  I  then  named  the  gen¬ 
tlemen,  and  General  Burgoyne,  raising  his  hat  most  gracefully,  said  ‘  The  fortune  of  war. 
General  Gates,  has  made  me  your  prisoner;’  to  which  the  conqueror,  returning  a  courtly 
salute,  promptly  replied,  ‘  I  shall  always  be  ready  to  bear  testimony,  that  it  has  not  been 
through  any  fault  of  your  excellency.’  Major-general  Phillips  then  advanced,  and  he  and 
General  Gates  saluted,  and  shook  hands  with  the  familiarity  of  old  acquaintances.  The 
Baron  Reidesel,  and  the  other  officers,  were  introduced  in  tljeir  turn.” 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


315 


“  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  was 
born  at  Albany,  in  1731,  of  an 
ancient  and  respectable  family. 
When  quite  young  he  became  a 
member  of  the  New  York  legisla¬ 
ture,  and  was  eminent  for  his  in¬ 
telligence  and  usefulness.  To  him 
and  Governor  Clinton  it  was  chief¬ 
ly  owing  that  the  province  made  an  early  and  decided  resistance  to  those  British  measures 
which  terminated  in  the  independence  of  the  colonies.  When  the  revolution  commenced, 
he  was  appointed,  June  19,  1775,  a  major-general,  and  was  directed  to  proceed  imme¬ 
diately  from  New  York  to  Ticonderoga,  to  secure  the  lakes,  and  make  preparations  for 
entering  Canada.  Being  taken  sick  in  September,  the  command  devolved  upon  Mont¬ 
gomery.  On  his  recovery,  he  devoted  himself  zealously  to  the  management  of  the  affairs 
in  the  northern  departments.  He  gave  much  attention  to  the  superintendence  of  the  In¬ 
dian  concerns.  On  the  approach  of  Burgoyne,  in  1777,  he  made  every  exertion  to  obstruct 
his  progress  ;  but  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  by  St.  Clair,  occasioning  unreasonable 
jealousies  in  regard  to  Schuyler,  in  New  England,  he  was  superseded  by  Gen.  Gates  in 
August ;  and  an  inquiry  was  directed  by  congress  to  be  made  into  his  conduct.  He  was 
afterward,  though  not  in  the  regular  service,  very  useful  to  his  country  in  the  military 
transactions  of  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  the  old  congress  ;  and  when  the  pres¬ 
ent  government  of  the  United  States  commenced  its  operation  in  1789,  he  was  appointed 
a  senator  in  the  national  legislature.  He  was  chosen  a  second  time  in  1797,  to  the  same 
station.  In  the  senate  of  New  York,  he  contributed  probably  more  than  any  other  man 
to  the  code  of  laws  adopted  by  the  state.  He  died  at  his  seat  near  Albany,  Nov.  18, 
1804,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age.  He  possessed  great  strength  of  mind,  and  purity  of  in¬ 
tention.  In  the  contrivance  of  plans  of  public  utility,  he  was  wise  and  circumspect,  and 
in  their  execution,  enterprising  and  persevering.  In  his  deportment  he  was  dignified  and 
courteous.  He  was  a  pleasant  and  instructive  companion,  and  in  all  the  functions  of  pri¬ 
vate  life  was  highly  exemplary.” — Encyclopedia  Americana. 


Western  view  of  the  battle-ground ,  Stillwater. 


The  town  of  Stillwater  is  distinguished  in  history  as  being  the  bat¬ 
tle-ground  of  the  armies  of  Generals  Gates  and  Burgoyne,  in  which 
the  army  of  the  latter  general  was  signally  repulsed,  and  forced  to 
retire  from  the  field  of  action. 

The  above  shows  the  appearance  of  the  battle-ground  on  Free¬ 
man’s  farm,  as  seen  from  near  the  front  of  Mr.  J.  Walker’s  house,  21- 
miles  from  Pattison’s  tavern,  and  about  2  miles  from  Hudson  river. 


316 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


Freeman’s  house  stood  a  few  feet  south  of  the  southernmost  building 
seen  in  the  engraving ;  the  line  of  trees  or  woods  seen  behind  the 
buildings  is  the  spot  where  Burgoyne  formed  his  line  on  the  brow 
of  the  elevated  plain  previous  to  the  battle  of  Sept.  19th;  Willard's 
mountain  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson  is  seen  in  the  distance. 
About  15  rods  south  from  Mr.  Walker’s  house,  in  what  then  was 
called  a  meadow,  is  the  spot  where  Gen.  Frazer  was  mortally 
wounded ;  it  is  a  little  west  of  a  road  running  N.  and  S.  which  has 
since  been  made  near  this  place.  About  60  rods  in  a  SW.  direction 
was  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  on  the  7th  of  October.  Near  the  place 
where  Frazer  fell,  a  hole  or  grave  was  dug,  into  which  the  bodies  of 
40  soldiers  were  thrown,  after  being  stripped  of  their  clothing  by 
the  women  of  the  camp.  Maj.  Ackland  was  wounded  a  little  east 
of  the  present  road.  The  following  account  of  the  battles  is  drawn 
from  various  sources. 

“  The  army  arrived  at  Stillwater  on  the  9th  of  September,  fully  determined  to  face  the 
foe,  and  if  necessary  pursue  him  into  his  own  confines.  This  was  at  first  supposed  to  be 
an  eligible  position  for  throwing  up  a  line  of  intrenchments,  and  a  large  party  under  the 
engineer  Kosciusko  were  accordingly  set  to  work  for  that  purpose.  But  upon  a  more  nar¬ 
row  inspection  of  the  grounds,  the  general  determined  to  change  his  position,  and  occupy 
Bemus’s  heights,  which  were  taken  possession  of  and  fortified  on  the  12th.  Burgoyne  at 
this  time  lay  opposite  to  Saratoga,  occupying  old  Fort  Miller  and  Battenkill ;  but  what  were 
his  further  intentions,  Gen.  Gates  had  no  means  of  judging.  In  this  situation  the  deputy 
adjutant-general,  Col.  James  Wilkinson,  volunteered  to  head  a  select  reconnoitring  party, 
and  obtain  if  possible  the  desired  information.  He  left  the  camp  with  170  men,  under  cover 
of  a  dark  night,  and  arrived  by  daylight  at  Davocote,  about  two  miles  from  Saratoga.  Here 
he  posted  the  greater  part  of  his  men  in  a  wood  near  the  road,  and  proceeded  himself  to 
the  heights  of  Fish  creek ;  from  which  position  he  discovered  a  column  of  the  enemy  drawn 
up  under  arms,  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  creek,  within  300  yards  of  him,  and  another 
column  under  march,  descending  the  heights  below  Battenkill.  Being  satisfied  from  these 
circumstances  that  Gen.  Burgoyne  was  advancing,  Col.  Wilkinson  returned  to  camp  with 
his  party,  bringing  with  him  three  prisoners,  who  confirmed  the  intelligence. 

“  On  the  15th,  Gen.  Burgoyne  having  crossed  the  river  some  days  before,  had  advanced 
as  far  as  Davocote,  where  he  halted  24  hours  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  the  bridges  and 
roads  in  his  advance,  for  the  more  convenient  march  of  his  army.  On  the  18th,  Gen.  Ar¬ 
nold  was  sent  out  with  1,500  men,  to  harass  and  impede  him,  but  returned  without  accom¬ 
plishing  any  thing ;  Burgoyne  continuing  his  march  until  he  had  arrived  within  2  miles  of 
Gen.  Gates’s  camp.  Here  he  encamped  in  a  line  extending  from  the  river  to  a  range  of 
hills  600  yards  distant,  and  upon  which  were  posted  the  elite  of  his  army.  The  position 
occupied  by  Gen.  Gates,  as  described  by  an  eye-witness,  and  one  who  knew  it  well,  was 
as  follows  : — ‘  His  right  occupied  the  brow  of  the  hill  near  the  river,  with  which  it  was  con¬ 
nected  by  a  deep  intrenchment ;  his  camp  in  the  form  of  a  segment  of  a  great  circle,  the 
convex  towards  the  enemy,  extended  rather  obliquely  to  his  rear,  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  to  a  knoll  occupied  by  his  left ;  his  front  was  covered  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  his 
centre,  by  a  sharp  ravine  running  parallel  with  his  line,  and  closely  wooded  ;  from  thence 
to  the  knoll  at  his  extreme  left,  the  ground  was  level  and  had  been  partially  cleared,  some 
of  the  trees  being  felled,  and  others  girdled  ;  beyond  which,  in  front  of  his  left  flank,  and 
extending  to  the  enemy’s  right,  there  were  several  small  fields  in  very  imperfect  cultivation, 
the  surface  broken  and  obstructed  with  stumps  and  fallen  timber,  and  the  whole  bounded 
on  the  west  by  a  steep  eminence.  The  extremities  of  this  camp  were  defended  by  strong 
batteries,  and  the  interval  was  strengthened  by  a  breastwork  without  intrenchments,  con¬ 
structed  of  the  bodies  of  felled  trees,  logs  and  rails,  with  an  additional  battery  at  an  open¬ 
ing  left  of  the  centre.  The  right  was  almost  impracticable  ;  the  left  difficult  of  approach.’  ” 
— Allen's  Rev. 

While  in  this  position,  the  battle  of  the  19th  Sept,  took  place ;  the 
following  account  of  which  is  from  Gen.  Wilkinson’s  Memoirs. 

“  This  battle  was  perfectly  accidental ;  neither  of  the  generals  meditated  an  attack  at 
the  time,  and  but  for  Lieut.  Gol.  Colburn’s  report,  it  would  not  have  taken  place ;  Bur- 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


317 


goyne’s  movement  being  merely  to  take  ground  on  the  heights  in  front  of  the  great  ravine, 
to  give  his  several  corps  their  proper  places  in  line,  to  embrace  our  front  and  cover  his 
transport,  stores,  provisions,  and  baggage,  in  the  rear  of  his  left ;  and  on  our  side,  the  de¬ 
fences  of  our  camp  being  not  half  completed,  and  reinforcements  daily  arriving,  it  was  not 
Gen.  Gates’s  policy  to  court  an  action.  The  misconception  of  the  adverse  chiefs  put  them 
on  the  defensive,  and  confined  them  to  the  ground  they  casually  occupied  at  the  beginning 
of  the  action,  and  prevented  a  single  manoeuvre,  during  one  of  the  longest,  warmest,  and 
most  obstinate  battles  fought  in  America. 

“  The  theatre  of  action  was  such,  that  although  the  combatants  changed  ground  a  dozen 
times  in  the  course  of  the  day,  the  contest  terminated  on  the  spot  where  it  began.  The 
British  line  was  formed  on  an  eminence  in  a  thin  pine  wood,  having  before  it  Freeman’s 
farm,  an  oblong  field,  stretching  from  its  centre  towards  its  right,  the  ground  in  front  sloping 
gently  down  to  the  verge  of  this  field,  which  was  bordered  on  the  opposite  side  by  a  close 
wood.  The  sanguinary  scene  lay  in  the  cleared  ground,  between  the  eminence  occupied 
by  the  enemy,  and  the  wood  just  described.  The  fire  of  our  marksmen  from  this  wood 
was  too  deadly  to  be  withstood  by  the  enemy  in  line,  and  when  they  gave  way  and  broke, 
our  men,  rushing  from  their  covert,  pursued  them  to  the  eminence,  where,  having  their 
flanks  protected,  they  rallied,  and,  charging  in  turn,  drove  us  back  into  the  wood,  from 
whence  a  dreadful  fire  would  again  force  them  to  fall  back ;  and  in  this  manner  did  the 
battle  fluctuate,  like  the  waves  of  a  stormy  sea,  with  alternate  advantage  for  four  hours, 
without  one  moment’s  intermission.  The  British  artillery  fell  into  our  possession  at  every 
charge,  but  we  could  neither  turn  the  pieces  upon  the  enemy,  nor  bring  them  off ;  the 
wood  prevented  the  last,  and  the  want  of  a  match  the  first,  as  the  linstock  was  invariably 
carried  off,  and  the  rapidity  of  the  transitions  did  not  allow  us  time  to  provide  one.  The 
slaughter  of  this  brigade  of  artillerists  was  remarkable,  the  captain  and  36  men  being  killed 
or  wounded  out  of  48.  It  was  truly  a  gallant  conflict,  in  which  death  by  familiarity  lost 
his  terrors,  and  certainly  a  drawn  battle,  as  night  alone  terminated  it ;  the  British  army 
keeping  its  ground  in  rear  of  the  field  of  action,  and  our  corps,  when  they  could  no  longer 
distinguish  objects,  retiring  to  their  own  camp.” 

From  the  period  this  battle  was  fought,  (Sept.  19th,)  to  October 
7th,  the  time  was  spent  by  Gen.  Burgoyne  in  strengthening  his  posi¬ 
tion,  and  by  Gen.  Gates  in  collecting  reinforcements.  Gen.  Bur¬ 
goyne  is  said  to  have  planned  an  attack  on  the  20th  and  21st  of 
September,  but  fortunately  it  was  delayed  until  the  Americans  were 
in  the  best  situation  to  oppose  him.  Attacks  on  the  British  piquets 
took  place  almost  every  evening,  and  they  were  continually  harassed. 
The  following  is  Gen.  Wilkinson’s  account  of  the  battle  of  Oct.  7th. 

“  On  the  afternoon  of  October  7th,  the  advanced  guard  of  the  centre  beat  to  arms ;  the 
alarm  was  repeated  throughout  the  line,  and  the  troops  repaired  to  their  alarm  posts.  I  was 
at  head-quarters  when  this  happened,  and  with  the  approbation  of  the  general,  mounted  my 
horse  to  inquire  the  cause ;  but  on  reaching  the  guard  where  the  beat  commenced,  I  could 
obtain  no  other  satisfaction,  but  that  some  person  had  reported  the  enemy  to  be  advancing 
against  our  left.  I  proceeded,  over  open  ground,  and  ascending  a  gentle  acclivity  in  front 
of  the  guard,  I  perceived,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  line  of  our  encampment,  several  col¬ 
umns  of  the  enemy,  60  or  70  rods  from  me,  entering  a  wheat  field  which  had  not  been  cut, 
and  was  separated  from  me  by  a  small  rivulet ;  and  without  my  glass  I  could  distinctly 
mark  their  every  movement.  After  entering  the  field  they  displayed,  formed  the  line,  and 
set  down  in  double  ranks  with  their  arms  between  their  legs.  Foragers  then  proceeded  to 
cut  the  wheat  or  standing  straw,  and  I  soon  after  observed  several  officers  mounted  on  the 
top  of  a  cabin,  from  whence  with  their  glasses  they  were  endeavoring  to  reconnoitre  our 
left,  which  was  concealed  from  their  view  by  intervening  woods. 

“  Having  satisfied  myself,  after  fifteen  minutes  attentive  observation,  that  no  attack  was 
meditated,  I  returned  and  reported  to  the  general,  who  asked  me  what  appeared  to  be  the 
intentions  of  the  enemy.  ‘  They  are  foraging,  and  endeavoring  to  reconnoitre  your  left ; 
and  I  think,  sir,  they  offer  you  battle.’  ‘  What  is  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  what  your 
opinion  ?’  ‘  Their  front  is  open,  and  their  flanks  rest  on  the  woods,  under  cover  of  which 

they  may  be  attacked ;  their  right  is  skirted  by  a  lofty  height.  I  would  indulge  them.’ 
*  Well,  then,  order  on  Morgan  to  begin  the  game.’  I  waited  on  the  colonel,  whose  corps 
was  formed  in  front  of  our  centre,  and  delivered  the  order ;  he  knew  the  ground  and  in¬ 
quired  the  position  of  the  enemy ;  they  were  formed  across  a  newly  cultivated  field,  their 


318 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


grenadiers  with  several  field-pieces  on  the  left,  bordering  on  a  wood  and  a  small  ravine 
formed  by  the  rivulet  before  alluded  to ;  their  light  infantry  on  the  right,  covered  by  a  worm 
fence  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  before  mentioned,  thickly  covered  with  wood ;  their  centre 
composed  of  British  and  German  battalions.  Col.  Morgan,  with  his  usual  sagacity,  pro¬ 
posed  to  make  a  circuit  with  his  corps  by  our  left,  and  under  cover  of  the  wood  to  gain  the 
height  on  the  right  of  the  enemy,  and  from  thence  commence  the  attack,  so  soon  as  our 
fire  should  be  opened  against  their  left ;  the  plan  was  the  best  which  could  be  devised,  and 
no  doubt  contributed  essentially  to  the  prompt  and  decisive  victory  we  gained. 

“  This  proposition  was  approved  by  the  general,  and  it  was  concerted  that  time  should  be 
allowed  the  colonel  to  make  the  proposed  circuit,  and  gain  his  station  on  the  enemy’s  right 
before  the  attack  should  be  made  on  their  left ;  Poor’s  brigade  was  ordered  for  this  service, 
and  the  attack  was  commenced  in  due  season  on  the  flank  and  front  of  the  British  grena¬ 
diers,  by  the  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  troops.  True  to  his  purpose,  Morgan  at  this 
critical  moment  poured  down  like  a  torrent  from  the  hill,  and  attacked  the  right  of  the  en¬ 
emy  in  front  and  flank.  Dearborn,  at  the  moment  when  the  enemy’s  light  infantry  were 
attempting  to  change  front,  pressed  forward  with  ardor,  and  delivered  a  close  fire ;  then 
leaped  the  fence,  shouted,  charged,  and  gallantly  forced  them  to  retire  in  disorder ;  yet, 
headed  by  that  intrepid  soldier,  the  Earl  of  Balcarras,  they  were  immediately  rallied,  and 
re-formed  behind  a  fence  in  rear  of  their  first  position ;  but  being  now  attacked  with  great 
audacity,  in  front  and  flanks,  by  superior  numbers,  resistance  became  vain,  and  the  whole 
line,  commanded  by  Burgoyne  in  person,  gave  way,  and  made  a  precipitate  and  disorderly 
retreat  to  his  camp,  leaving  two  twelve  and  six  six  pounders  on  the  field,  with  the  loss  of 
more  than  400  officers  and  men,  killed,  wounded  and  captured,  and  among  them  the  flow¬ 
er  of  his  officers — viz,  brigadier-general  Frazer;  Major  Ackland,  commanding  the  grenadiers  ; 
Sir  Francis  Clark,  his  first  aid-de-camp;  Major  Williams,  commanding  officer  of  the  artil¬ 
lery  ;  Captain  Mooney,  deputy  quartermaster-general,  and  many  others.  After  deliver¬ 
ing  the  order  to  General  Poor,  and  directing  him  to  the  point  of  attack,  I  was  peremptorily 
commanded  to  repair  to  the  rear,  and  order  up  Ten  Broeck’s  regiment  of  New  York  mili¬ 
tia,  3000  strong.  I  performed  this  service,  and  regained  the  field  of  battle  at  the  moment 
the  enemy  had  turned  their  backs — 52  minutes  after  the  first  shot  was  fired.  The  ground 
which  had  been  occupied  by  the  British  grenadiers,  presented  a  scene  of  complicated  hor¬ 
ror  and  exultation.  In  the  square  space  of  twelve  or  fifteen  yards  lay  eighteen  grenadiers 
in  the  agonies  of  death,  and  three  officers  propped  up  against  stumps  of  trees,  two  of  them 
mortally  wounded,  bleeding  and  almost  speechless.  What  a  spectacle  for  one  whose  bo¬ 
som  glowed  with  philanthropy ;  and  how  vehement  the  impulse  which  excites  men  of  sen. 
sibility  to  seek  such  scenes  of  barbarism  !  I  found  the  courageous  Colonel  Cilley  a-strad- 
dle  on  a  brass  twelve  pounder,  and  exulting  in  the  capture ;  whilst  a  surgeon,  a  man  of 
great  worth,  who  was  dressing  one  of  the  officers,  raising  his  blood-besmeared  hands  in  the 
phrenzy  of  patriotism,  exclaimed,  *  Wilkinson,  I  have  dipped  my  hands  in  British  blood.’ 
He  received  a  sharp  rebuke  for  his  brutality  ;  and  with  the  troops  I  pursued  the  hard  press¬ 
ed  flying  enemy,  passing  over  killed  and  wounded,  until  I  heard  one  exclaim,  ‘  Protect  me, 
sir,  against  this  boy.’  Turning  my  eyes,  it  was  my  fortune  tq  arrest  the  purpose  of  a  lad 
thirteen  or  fourteen  years  old,  in  the  act  of  taking  aim  at  the  wounded  officer,  who  lay  in 
the  angle  of  a  worm  fence.  Inquiring  his  rank,  he  answered,  ‘  I  had  the  honor  to  com¬ 
mand  the  grenadiers.’  Of  course,  I  knew  him  to  be  Major  Ackland,  who  had  been  brought 
from  the  field  to  this  place,  on  the  back  of  Captain  Shrimpton,  of  his  own  corps,  under  a 
heavy  fire,  and  was  here  deposited,  to  save  the  lives  of  both.  I  dismounted,  took  him  by 
the  hand,  and  expressed  my  hopes  that  he  was  not  badly  wounded.  ‘  Not  badly,’  replied 
this  gallant  officer  and  accomplished  gentleman,  ‘  but  very  inconveniently.  I  am  shot 
through  both  legs.  Will  you,  sir,  have  the  goodness  to  have  me  conveyed  to  your  camp  ?’ 
I  directed  my  servant  to  alight,  and  we  lifted  Ackland  into  his  seat,  and  ordered  him  to  be 
conducted  to  head-quarters.  I  then  proceeded  to  the  scene  of  renewed  action,  which  em¬ 
braced  Burgoyne’s  right  flank  defence,  and  extending  to  his  left,  crossed  a  hollow  covered 
with  wood,  about  40  rods,  to  the  intrenchment  of  the  light  infantry.  The  roar  of  cannon 
and  small-arms,  at  this  juncture,  was  sublime,  between  the  enerqy,  behind  their  works,  and 
our  troops  entirely  exposed,  or  partially  sheltered  by  trees,  stumps,  or  hollows,  at  various 
distances,  not  exceeding  120  yards.  This  right  flank  defence  of  the  enemy,  occupied  by 
the  German  corps  of  Breyman,  consisted  of  a  breastwork  of  rails  piled  horizontally  be¬ 
tween  perpendicular  pickets,  driven  into  the  earth,  era  potence  to  the  rest  of  his  line,  and 
extended  about  250  yards  across  an  open  field,  and  was  covered  on  the  right  by  a  battery 
of  two  guns.  The  interval  from  the  left  to  the  British  light  infantry,  was  committed  to  the 
defence  of  the  provincialists,  who  occupied  a  couple  of  log  cabins.  The  Germans  were 
encamped  immediately  behind  the  rail  breastwork,  and  the  ground  in  front  of  it  declined, 
in  a  very  gentle  slope,  for  about  120  yards,  when  it  sunk  abruptly.  Our  troops  had  formed 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


319 


a  line  under  this  declivity,  and  covered  breast  high,  were  warmly  engaged  with  the  Ger. 
mans.  From  this  position,  about  sunset,  I  perceived  Brigadier-general  Learned  advancing 
towards  the  enemy  with  his  brigade,  in  open  column,  I  think  with  Col.  M.  Jackson’s  regi¬ 
ment  in  front,  as  I  saw  Lieutenant-colonel  Brooks,  who  commanded  it,  near  the  general 
when  I  rode  up  to  him.  On  saluting  this  brave  old  soldier,  he  inquired,  *  Where  can  I  put 
in  with  most  advantage  ?’  I  had  particularly  examined  the  ground  between  the  left  of  the 
Germans  and  the  light  infantry,  occupied  by  the  provincialists,  from  whence  I  had  observed 
a  slack  fire.  I  therefore  recommended  to  General  Learned  to  incline  to  his  right,  and  at¬ 
tack  at  that  point.  He  did  so,  with  great  gallantry ;  the  provincialists  abandoned  their  po¬ 
sition  and  fled.  The  German  flank  was,  by  this  means,  left  uncovered.  They  were  as¬ 
saulted  vigorously,  overturned  in  five  minutes,  and  retreated  in  disorder,  leaving  their  gal¬ 
lant  commander,  Lieutenant-colonel  Breyman,  dead  on  the  field.  By  dislodging  this  corps, 
the  whole  British  encampment  was  laid  open  to  us ;  but  the  extreme  darkness  of  the  night, 
the  fatigue  of  the  men,  and  disorder  incident  to  undisciplined  troops,  after  so  desultory  an 
action,  put  it  out  of  our  power  to  improve  the  advantage  ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  night, 
General  Burgoyne  broke  up  his  camp,  and  retired  to  his  original  position,  which  he  had  for¬ 
tified,  behind  the  great  ravine.” 

The  following  is  from  Allen’s  American  Revolution : — 

“  The  British  lost  in  this  action  upwards  of  400  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  among 
whom  were  several  of  their  most  distinguished  officers.  Brigadier-general  Frazer,  and 
Lieutenant-colonel  Breyman,  who  commanded  the  Germans,  were  both  mortally  wounded. 
Major  Ackland,  Sir  Francis  Clark,  first  aid-de-camp,  Major  Williams,  who  commanded  the 
artillery,  and  the  deputy  quarter-master-general,  Captain  Money,  were  among  the  prisoners. 
Lieutenant-colonel  Brooks,  of  General  Learned’s  brigade,  who  commanded  Jackson’s  regi¬ 
ment  on  this  day,  led  his  men  into  action  with  great  spirit  against  the  German  grenadiers, 
who  were  posted  behind  a  rail  breastwork — the  stockades  were  carried  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  and  the  Germans  forced  to  retreat.  They  were  followed  to  their  encampment, 
and  again  forced  to  fly,  leaving  their  whole  equipage  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Ameri¬ 
cans.  The  Brunswickers  showed  great  cowardice  in  the  action,  having  fled  before  a  man 
of  them  was  killed  or  wounded.  Besides  their  killed,  wounded,  and  captured,  the  British 
lost  eight  brass  field-pieces,  a  number  of  carts  and  tents,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
baggage.  Burgoyne  himself  narrowly  escaped  death,  one  shot  having  passed  through  his 
hat,  and  another  through  his  waistcoat.  He  was  on  the  field  during  the  whole  of  the  ac¬ 
tion,  directing  every  movement;  but  neither  gallantry  nor  skill  could  effect  any  thing 
against  such  a  superiority  of  force.  General  Gates  remained  in  camp  during  the  whole  ac¬ 
tion,  that  he  might  be  the  better  enabled  to  order  and  regulate  the  various  movements,  as 
circumstances  should  require. 

“  The  loss  of  the  Americans  did  not  exceed  eighty  men,  killed  and  wounded.  General 
Arnold  was  among  the  latter;  who,  though  he  had  not  been  reinstated  in  his  command 
since  the  dispute  with  General  Gates,  before  mentioned,  rode  about  the  field  giving  orders 
in  every  direction,  sometimes  in  direct  contradiction  to  those  of  the  commander,  at  others 
leading  a  platoon  in  person,  and  exposing  himself  to  the  hottest  fire  of  the  enemy.  There 
seems  to  he  little  doubt,  from  the  conduct  of  Arnold  during  the  action,  that  he  was  in  a 
state  of  intoxication.  The  mortifying  situation  in  which  he  found  himself  at  its  commence¬ 
ment,  without  command  or  authority,  sufficiently  accounts  for  any  extravagance  in  a  spirit 
like  his.  At  one  time  he  dashed  through  two  opposing  lines,  exposing  himself  to  the  fire 
of  both  sides,  but  miraculously  escaped  unhurt :  at  another  time,  placing  himself  at  the 
head  of  a  small  platoon  of  Morgan’s  riflemen,  he  led  them  around  into  the  rear  of  the  en¬ 
emy,  at  the  moment  they  turned  to  retreat,  under  the  hottest  fire  of  the  Americans.  In 
this  situation,  his  horse  was  killed  under  him,  and  his  leg  was  broken.  It  would  be  doing 
injustice  to  General  Arnold,  traitor  as  he  afterward  proved,  to  deny  that  he  deserved  some 
credit  on  this  day ;  but  though  he  was  brave  almost  beyond  parallel,  he  was  rash,  impetu¬ 
ous  and  headstrong,  and  when  it  is  considered,  that  these  faults  of  his  natural  temper  were 
aggravated  and  heightened  by  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  his  situation,  it  will  not  per¬ 
haps  be  wrong  to  say,  that  he  could  not  have  rendered  any  very  essential  services  to  the 
American  army,  in  this  important  contest. 

“  On  the  night  of  the  battle,  General  Burgoyne  deemed  it  prudent  to  change  his  posi. 
tion ;  for  the  Americans  had  followed  them  to  within  half  a  mile  of  their  encampment,  and 
continued  to  cannonade  them  without  ceasing.  He  determined  therefore  to  abandon  his 
camp  and  move  to  the  high  grounds,  which  he  effected  in  good  order  and  without  loss. 
On  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  American  army  moved  forward  and  took  possession  of  his 
abandoned  camp,  from  which  they  kept  up  a  random  fire  of  artillery  and  small-arms  dur 


320 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


ing  the  wnole  day.  Burgoyive's  troops  were  all  day  under  arms  in  expectation  oi  another 
attack,  and  indicating  by  their  movements  that  they  intended  a  still  further  retreat.  In  the 
occasional  skirmishes  of  the  day,  General  Lincoln  was  shot  in  the  leg  by  some  of  the  en¬ 
emy's  marksmen.” 


House  in  which  General  Frazer  died,  Stillwater. 


The  annexed  is  a  northeastern  view  of  the  house  on  the  bank  of 
the  Hudson  in  Stillwater,  in  which  General  Frazer  died.*  This 
house  was  originally  one  story  in  height,  and  formerly  stood  about 
25  rods  westward  of  its  present  situation,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  north 
of  the  canal  bridge  seen  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  It  has  since  re¬ 
ceived  an  addition  at  both  ends ;  the  general  expired  near  the  first 
window  to  the  right  of  the  door.  Beyond  the  bridge  in  the  distance  is 
seen  an  elevation  about  100  feet  in  height.  This  spot  is  rendered  in¬ 
teresting  on  account  of  its  being  the  burial  place  of  General  Frazer. 
The  gravef  was  between  the  two  pine  trees  seen  on  the  summit.  Du¬ 
ring  the  last  battle,  the  Americans  had  a  few  cannon  on  the  rising  ground 
above  the  eastern  shore,  from  which  shots  were  fired.  This  house 
appears  to  have  been  for  a  time  the  head-quarters  of  Burgoyne. 
Several  ladies  of  distinction  were  also  inmates  at  the  time  when  the 
British  troops  were  here,  being  the  wives  of  some  of  the  principal 
officers.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  one  of  the  letters  of  the 
Baroness  Reidesel,  originally  published  in  Germany : — 

“  But  severe  trials  awaited  us,  and  on  the  7th  of  October,  our  misfortunes  began.  I  was 
at  breakfast  with  my  husband,  and  heard  that  something  was  intended.  On  the  same  day 
I  expected  Generals  Burgoyne,  Phillips,  and  Frazer  to  dine  with  us.  I  saw  a  great  move¬ 
ment  among  the  troops  ;  my  husband  told  me,  it  was  merely  a  reconnoissance,  which  gave 
me  no  concern,  as  it  often  happened.  I  walked  out  of  the  house  and  met  several  Indians 
in  their  war  dresses,  with  guns  in  their  hands.  When  I  asked  them  where  they  were  go- 


*  The  following  are  the  circumstances  of  his  death  :  In  the  midst  of  the  sanguinary 
battle  of  Oct.  7th,  Colonel  Morgan  took  a  few  of  his  choice  riflemen  aside  and  said,  “  That 
gallant  officer  is  General  Frazer ;  I  admire  and  respect  him,  but  it  is  necessary  that  he 
should  die ;  take  your  stations  in  that  wood,  and  do  your  duty.”  Within  a  few  moments 
Gen.  Frazer  fell  mortally  wounded.  He  was  supported  by  two  officers,  till  he  reached  his 
tent ;  he  said  he  saw  the  man  who  shot  him,  that  he  was  a  rifleman  posted  in  a  tree, 
t  His  remains  were  taken  up  some  years  since,  and  conveyed  to  England. 


SARATOGA  COUNTY. 


321 


ing,  they  cried  out,  ‘War!  War!’  (meaning  they  were  going  to  battle.)  This  filled  me 
with  apprehension,  and  I  scarcely  got  home  before  I  heard  reports  of  cannon  and  musketry, 
which  grew  louder  by  degrees,  till  at  last  the  noise  became  excessive.  About  four  o’clock 
in  the  afternoon,  instead  of  the  guests  whom  I  expected,  General  Frazer  was  brought  on  a 
litter  mortally  wounded.  The  table,  which  was  already  set,  was  instantly  removed  and  a 
bed  placed  in  its  stead  for  the  wounded  general.  I  sat  trembling  in  a  corner ;  the  noise 
grew  louder,  and  the  alarm  increased ;  the  thought  that  my  husband  might  perhaps  be 
brought  in,  wounded  in  the  same  way,  was  terrible  to  me,  and  distressed  me  exceedingly. 
General  Frazer  said  to  the  surgeon,  ''Tell  me  if  my  wound  is  mortal ;  do  not  flatter  me.' 
The  ball  had  passed  through  his  body,  and  unhappily  for  the  general,  he  had  eaten  a  very 
hearty  breakfast,  by  which  the  stomach  was  distended,  and  the  ball,  as  the  surgeon  said, 
had  passed  through  it.  I  heard  him  often  exclaim  with  a  sigh,  ‘  Oh,  fatal  ambition !  Poor 
General  Burgoyne  !  Oh,  my  poor  wife  !’  He  was  asked  if  he  had  any  request  to  make,  to 
which  he  replied,  that  *  If  General  Burgoyne  would  permit  it,  he  should  like  to  be  buried 
at  six  o’clock  in  the  evening  on  the  top  of  a  mountain,  in  a  redoubt  which  had  been  built 
there.’  I  did  not  know  which  way  to  turn,  all  the  other  rooms  were  full  of  sick.  To¬ 
wards  evening  I  saw  my  husband  coming ;  then  I  forgot  all  my  sorrows,  and  thanked  God 
that  he  was  spared  to  me.  He  ate  in  great  haste  with  me  and  his  aid-de-camp  behind  the 
house.  We  had  been  told  that  we  had  the  advantage  of  the  enemy,  but  the  sorrowful  fa¬ 
ces  I  beheld  told  a  different  tale,  and  before  my  husband  went  away,  he  took  me  one  side, 
and  said  every  thing  was  going  very  bad,  that  I  must  keep  myself  in  readiness  to  leave  the 
place,  but  not  to  mention  it  to  any  one.  I  made  the  pretence  that  I  would  move  the  next 
morning  into  my  new  house,  and  had  every  thing  packed  up  ready. 

“  Lady  H.  Ackland  had  a  tent  not  far  from  our  house ;  in  this  she  slept,  and  the  rest  of 
the  day  she  was  in  the  camp.  All  of  a  sudden,  a  man  came  to  tell  her  that  her  husband 
was  mortally  wounded  and  taken  prisoner ;  on  hearing  this  she  became  very  miserable ; 
we  comforted  her  by  telling  her  that  the  wound  was  only  slight,  and  at  the  same  time  ad¬ 
vised  her  to  go  over  to  her  husband,  to  do  which  she  would  certainly  obtain  permission, 
and  then  she  could  attend  him  herself;  she  was  a  charming  woman,  and  very  fond  of  him. 
I  spent  much  of  the  night  in  comforting  her,  and  then  went  again  to  my  children,  whom  I 
had  put  to  bed.  I  could  not  go  to  sleep,  as  I  had  General  Frazer  and  all  the  other  wound¬ 
ed  gentlemen  in  my  room,  and  I  was  sadly  afraid  my  children  would  awake,  and  by  their 
crying  disturb  the  dying  man  in  his  last  moments,  who  often  addressed  me,  and  apologized 
‘ for  the  trouble  he  gave  me'  About  3  o’clock  in  the  morning  I  was  told  he  could  not  hold 
out  much  longer ;  I  had  desired  to  be  informed  of  the  near  approach  of  this  sad  crisis,  and 
I  then  wrapped  up  my  children  in  their  clothes,  and  went  with  them  into  the  room  below. 
About  8  o’clock  in  the  morning  he  died.  After  he  was  laid  out  and  his  corpse  wrapped  up 
in  a  sheet,  we  came  again  into  the  room,  and  had  this  sorrowful  sight  before  us  the  whole 
day ;  and  to  add  to  this  melancholy  scene,  almost  every  moment  some  officer  of  my  ac¬ 
quaintance  was  brought  in  wounded.  The  cannonade  commenced  again  ;  a  retreat  was 
spoken  of,  but  not  the  smallest  motion  was  made  towards  it.  About  4  o’clock  in  the  after¬ 
noon  I  saw  the  house  which  had  just  been  built  for  me  in  flames,  and  the  enemy  was  now 
not  far  off.  We  knew  that  General  Burgoyne  would  not  refuse  the  last  request  of  General 
Frazer,  though  by  his  acceding  to  it,  an  unnecessary  delay  was  occasioned,  by  which  the 
inconvenience  of  the  army  was  much  increased.  At  6  o’clock  the  corpse  was  brought  out, 
and  we  saw  all  the  generals  attend  it  to  the  mountain  ;  the  chaplain,  Mr.  Brundell,  per¬ 
formed  the  funeral  service,  rendered  unusually  solemn  and  awful,  from  its  being  accom¬ 
panied  by  constant  peals  from  the  enemy’s  artillery.  Many  cannon  balls  flew  close  by  me ; 
but  I  had  my  eyes  directed  towards  the  mountain,  where  my  husband  was  standing  amid 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  of  course,  I  could  not  think  of  my  own  danger.  General  Gates 
afterward  said,  that  if  he  had  known  it  had  been  a  funeral,  he  would  not  have  permitted  it 
to  be  fired  on.”  Lady  Harriet  Ackland  went  to  the  American  camp  after  the  action,  to  take 
care  of  her  husband,  before  the  surrender,  and  the  Baroness  Reidesel  afterward.  They 
were  both  received  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  delicacy. 

Waterford  was  taken  from  Half  Moon  in  1816.  The  village  of 
Waterford,  containing  a  population  of  about  1,600,  is  pleasantly  situ¬ 
ated  at  the  junction  of  the  Mohawk  with  the  Hudson,  10  miles  north  of 
Albany.  The  annexed  view  was  taken  on  the  road  to  Cahoos  Falls, 
about  a  mile  west  of  the  village.  There  are  here  4  churches — viz, 
1  Presbyterian,  1  Methodist,  1  Episcopal,  and  1  Dutch  Reformed — 
an  academy,  and  a  bank.  It  is  favorably  located  for  trade,  being  on 


322 


SCHENECTADY  COUNTY. 


Western  view  of  Waterford. 

the  lines  of  the  Champlain  canal  and  Rensselaer  and  Saratoga  rail¬ 
road.  It  also  derives  considerable  importance  from  the  navigation 
of  small  vessels  on  the  Hudson.  There  is  an  outlet  here  from  the 
canal  by  three  locks,  each  11  feet,  to  the  Mohawk  river.  The  agri¬ 
cultural  and  manufactured  products  exported  from  the  village  annually, 
amount  to  about  a  million  of  dollars.  The  water-power  used  in  the 
large  manufacturing  establishments  at  this  place  is  derived  from  the 
Mohawk. 


SCHENECTADY  COUNTY.  • 

Schenectady  county  was  taken  from  Albany  in  1809  ;  centrally 
distant  from  New  York  163,  from  Albany  18  miles.  Greatest  length 
25,  greatest  breadth  20  miles.  The  surface  is  much  diversified  by 
hills,  plains,  and  valleys.  The  soil  along  the  Mohawk  and  other 
streams  is  generally  rich  alluvion  ;  on  the  hills,  light  sandy  loam, 
sometimes  fertile  ;  and  on  the  plains,  clay  and  clayey  loam,  and  sand, 
sometimes  barren.  Wherever  practicable,  the  country  is  generally 
well  cultivated,  chiefly  by  descendants  of  the  primitive  Dutch  settlers, 
among  whom  are  many  wealthy  farmers.  The  Mohawk  river  runs 
SE.  through  the  county.  The  Schoharie  kill,  on  the  W.,  affords 
abundance  of  mill  power.  The  Mohawk  and  Hudson,  the  Rensse¬ 
laer  and  Saratoga,  and  the  Utica  and  Schenectady  railroads,  and 
Erie  canal,  cross  this  county.  The  county  is  divided  into  five  towns 
and  the  city  of  Schenectady,  viz.  : 

Duanesburgh,  Niskayuna,  Rotterdam, 

i  Glenville,  Princeton,  Schenectady. 


SCHENECTADY  COUNTY. 


323 


Schenectady  city  was  incorporated  in  1798.  Its  name,  pronounced 
by  the  Indians  Schagh-nac-taa-da,  signifying  “  beyond  the  pine  plains  ” 
was  originally  applied  to  Albany.  The  compact  part  of  the  city  was 
in  olden  time  the  site  of  an  Indian  village  called  Con-nugh-harie- 
gugh-harie,  literally,  “a  great  multitude  collected  together .”  It  is  said 
that  it  was  the  principal  seat  of  the  Mohawks,  even  before  the  con¬ 
federacy  of  the  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations.  It  was  abandoned  by 
them  at  a  very  early  period  in  the  colonial  history.  Some  time  pre¬ 
vious  to  1620,  it  is  stated  that  15  or  20  persons,  12  of  whom  were 
direct  from  Holland,  and  the  rest  from  Albany,  settled  here  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  on  the  fur  trade.  It  appears  from  the  Dutch 
records  that  the  first  grant  of  lands  was  made  in  1661,  to  Arent  Van 
Corlaer  and  others,  on  condition  that  they  purchased  the  soil  from 
the  Indians.  The  deed  was  obtained  in  1672,  and  signed  by  four 
Mohawk  chiefs. 

The  fiats  upon  the  Mohawk  river  are  extensive  and  rich,  and  the 
uplands,  undulating,  have  a  sandy  loam  soil  upon  clay  slate ;  watered 
by  the  Mohawk  and  its  tributary,  the  Sandkill,  a  steady  and  valuable 
stream,  which  unite  near  the  compact  portion  of  the  city.  The  city  is 
supplied  with  water  for  domestic  uses  by  an  aqueduct  from  a  spring  on 
a  neighboring  hill.  It  had  a  considerable  corporate  estate,  formerly 
vested  in  trustees,  by  letters  patent  granted  in  1684.  Portions  have 
been  sold,  but  the  residue,  between  sixteen  and  seventeen  thousand 
acres,  has  been  leased  in  perpetuity,  to  individuals,  at  fixed  rents,  giv¬ 
ing  an  annual  revenue  of  $5,000,  in  which  the  towns  of  Rotterdam 
and  Glenville  have  an  interest. 

The  compr.ct  part  of  Schenectady  is  on  the  SE.  side  of  the  Mo¬ 
hawk  river,  15|  miles  from  Albany,  and  15  SW.  of  Ballston  springs. 
The  plat  is  laid  out  on  20  streets  crossing  each  other,  running  about 
one  mile  in  one  direction  and  half  a  mile  in  another,  eight  of  which 
are  diagonally  intersected  by  the  Erie  canal.  The  city,  which  in 
some  parts  retains  much  of  its  ancient  appearance,  contains  the  county 
buildings,  1  Episcopal,  1  Dutch  Reformed,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist, 
1  Cameronian,  1  Methodist,  1  Universalist,  and  1  Catholic  church, 
the  Union  College,  Schenectady  Lyceum,  an  academy,  3  banks, 
&c.,  &c.  Pop.  8.922.  The  railroad  from  Albany  to  this  place  ex¬ 
tends  across  a  sandy  plain  covered  with  pines  and  shrubbery  ;  it 
enters  Schenectady  by  an  inclined  plane  which  descends  108  feet  in 
half  a  mile.  The  Saratoga  and  Schenectady  railroad  passes  through 
the  city,  crosses  the  Mohawk  river  on  a  substantial  bridge  between 
8  and  900  feet  long,  and  extends  in  a  northerly  direction  over  a 
heavy  embankment  for  three  fourths  of  a  mile  to  a  deep  cut,  where 
the  Utica  railroad  diverges  to  the  west,  and  the  Saratoga  to  the  north¬ 
east. 

Union  College,  in  this  city,  was  incorporated  by  the  regents  in 
1794,  and  has  reached  its  present  flourishing  condition  from  a  small 
beginning.  In  1785,  a  small  academy  was  erected  by  the  consistory 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  which  after  the  establishment  of 


SCHENECTADY  COUNTY. 


325 


from  Paltz,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Myers  died  in  1806.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Cornelius 
Bogardus,  who  died  in  1813,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Van  Vechten. 

“  The  Episcopal  church  at  Schenectady  was  founded  by  Mr.  John  W.  Brown,  who  emi¬ 
grated  from  England  previous  to  1762.  About  this  time  measures  were  taken  to  erect  a 
chapel.  The  principal  benefactors  were  Sir  William  Johnson  and  John  Duncan,  Esq. 
Previous  to  the  revolution  this  church  owned  a  valuable  library,  which,  together  with  the  or¬ 
gan  and  a  greater  part  of  the  interior  work  of  the  building,  was  destroyed  by  a  gang  of  lawless 
white  freebooters  and  some  Indians.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  these  freebooters  were  whigs, 
whose  prejudices  against  England  were  so  great  as  to  extend  to  every  thing  English.  That 
this  church  was  called  the  English  church,  and  was  supposed  to  be  under  the  English  in¬ 
fluence,  formed  a  sufficient  justification  in  their  own  view  for  its  destruction.  A  project 
was  set  on  foot  to  plunder  Mr.  Doty  the  pastor ;  but  fortunately  the  projectors  were  not  ac¬ 
quainted  with  his  person  or  place  of  abode,  and  as  nobody  would  inform  them,  he  escaped. 

“  The  Rev.  William  Andrews  was  probably  the  first  pastor  of  this  church.  He  was  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  1773  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Doty,  who  left  this  place  about  the  year  1777,  in  the  heat 
of  the  revolutionary  contest.  From  this  time  there  was  no  settled  minister  until  1791, 
when  the  Rev.  Ammi  Robbins  took  the  pastoral  charge  and  continued  until  1798.  After 
him  came  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitmore,  whose  ministration  ended  in  1804.  The  Rev.  Cyrus 
Stebbins  was  the  next  pastor ;  and  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Pierre  A.  Proal  in  1818.” 

The  war  during  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary,  in  England,  com¬ 
monly  called  “  King  William’s  War,”  commenced  in  1690  and  con¬ 
tinued  about  7  years.  In  the  depth  of  winter,  Count  Frontenac, 
governor  of  Canada,  fitted  out  three  expeditions  against  the  colonies 
— one  against  New  York,  a  second  against  New  Hampshire,  and  a 
third  against  the  province  of  Maine.  The  following,  relating  to  the 
destruction  of  Schenectady,  is  extracted  from  the  account  given  in 
Mr.  Drake’s  “  Book  of  the  Indians.” 

“After  two-and-twenty  days’ march,  the  enemy  fell  in  with  Schenectady,  February  8, 
1690.  There  were  about  200  French,  and  perhaps  50  Caughnewaga  Mohawks,  and  they 
at  first  intended  to  have  surprised  Albany ;  but  their  march  had  been  so  long  and  tedious, 
occasioned  by  the  deepness  of  the  snow  and  coldness  of  the  weather,  that,  instead  of  at¬ 
tempting  any  thing  offensive,  they  had  nearly  decided  to  surrender  themselves  to  the  first 
English  they  should  meet,  such  was  their  distressed  situation,  in  a  camp  of  snow,  but  a  few 
miles  from  the  devoted  settlement.  The  Indians,  however,  saved  them  from  the  disgrace. 
They  had  sent  out  a  small  scout  from  their  party,  who  entered  Schenectady  without  even 
exciting  suspicion  of  their  errand.  When  they  had  staid  as  long  as  the  nature  of  their 
business  required,  they  withdrew  to  their  fellows. 

“  Seeing  that  Schenectady  offered  such  an  easy  prey,  it  put  new  courage  into  the  French, 
and  they  came  upon  it  as  above  related.  The  bloody  tragedy  commenced  between  11  and 
12  o’clock,  on  Saturday  night ;  and,  that  every  house  might  be  surprised  at  nearly  the  same 
time,  the  enemy  divided  themselves  into  parties  of  6  or  7  men  each.  Although  the  town 
was  empaled,  no  one  thought  it  necessary  to  close  the  gates,  even  at  night,  presuming  the 
severity  of  the  season  was  a  sufficient  security ;  hence  the  first  news  of  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  was  at  every  door  of  every  house,  which  doors  were  broken  as  soon  as  the  profound 
slumbers  of  those  they  were  intended  to  guard.  The  same  inhuman  barbarities  now  fol¬ 
lowed,  that  were  afterward  perpetrated  upon  the  wretched  inhabitants  of  Montreal.  *  No 
tongue,’  said  Col.  Schuyler,  *  can  express  the  cruelties  that  were  committed.’  Sixty-three 
houses,  and  the  church,  were  immediately  in  a  blaze.  Enciente  women,  in  their  expiring 
agonies,  saw  their  infants  cast  into  the  flames,  being  first  delivered  by  the  knife  of  the  mid¬ 
night  assassin  !  Sixty-three  persons  were  put  to  death,  and  twenty-seven  were  carried  into 
captivity. 

“  A  few  persons  fled  towards  Albany,  with  no  other  covering  but  their  night-clothes ;  the 
horror  of  whose  condition  was  greatly  enhanced  by  a  great  fall  of  snow  ;  25  of  whom  lost 
their  limbs  from  the  severity  of  the  frost.  With  these  poor  fugitives  came  the  intelligence 
to  Albany,  and  that  place  was  in  a  dismal  confusion,  having,  as  usual  upon  such  occasions, 
supposed  the  enemy  to  have  been  seven  times  more  numerous  than  they  really  were. 
About  noon,  the  next  day,  the  enemy  set  off  from  Schenectady,  taking  all  the  plunder  they 
could  carry  with  them,  among  which  were  40  of  the  best  horses.  The  rest,  with  all  the 
cattle  and  other  domestic  animals,  lay  slaughtered  in  the  streets. 

“  One  of  the  most  considerable  men  of  Schenectady,  at  this  time,  was  Capt.  Alexander 


326 


SCHENECTADY  COUNTY. 


Glen.  He  lived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  was  suffered  to  escape,  because  he 
had  delivered  many  French  prisoners  from  torture  and  slavery,  who  had  been  taken  by  the 
Indians  in  the  former  wars.  They  had  passed  his  house  in  the  night,  and,  during  the  mas¬ 
sacre,  he  had  taken  the  alarm,  and  in  the  morning  he  was  found  ready  to  defend  himself. 
Before  leaving  the  village,  a  French  officer  summoned  him  to  a  council,  upon  the  shore  of 
the  river,  with  the  tender  of  personal  safety.  He  at  length  adventured  down,  and  had  the 
great  satisfaction  of  having  all  his  captured  friends  and  relatives  delivered  to  him ;  and  the 
enemy  departed,  keeping  good  their  promise  that  no  injury  should  be  done  him.” 

Among  those  who  made  a  successful  defence  and  kept  the  foe  at  bay,  was  Adam 
Vrooman.  Being  well  supplied  with  ammunition,  and  trusting  to  the  strength  of  his  build¬ 
ing,  which  was  a  sort  of  a  fort,  he  formed  the  desperate  resolution  to  defend  himself  to  the 
last  extremity ;  and  if  it  should  prove  his  fate  to  perish  in  the  ruins  of  his  own  domicil,  to 
sell  his  own  life  and  that  of  his  children  as  dear  as  possible.  Seconded  in  his  efforts  by 
one  of  his  sons,  who  assisted  in  loading  his  guns,  he  kept  up  a  rapid  and  continuous  fire 
upon  his  assailants,  and  with  the  most  deadly  effect.  His  house  was  soon  filled  with 
smoke.  His  wife,  nearly  suffocated  with  it,  cautiously,  yet  imprudently,  placed  the  door 
ajar.  This  an  alert  Indian  perceived,  and  firing  through  the  aperture,  killed  her.  In  the 
mean  time,  one  of  his  daughters  escaped  from  the  back  hall  door  with  his  infant  child  in 
her  arms.  They  snatched  the  little  innocent  from  her  arms,  and  dashed  out  its  brains  ;  and 
in  the  confusion  of  the  scene  the  girl  escaped.  Their  triumph  here,  however,  was  of  short 
duration  ;  Mr.  Vrooman  succeeded  in  securely  bolting  the  door  and  preventing  the  intru¬ 
sion  of  any  of  the  enemy.  On  witnessing  Mr.  Vrooman’s  courage,  and  fearing  greater 
havoc  among  their  chosen  band,  the  epemy  promised,  if  he  would  desist,  to  save  his  life  and 
not  set  fire  to  his  building.  This  promise  they  fulfilled,  but  carried  off  two  of  his  sons  into 
captivity. 

The  following  additional  particulars  respecting  this  event  are 
drawn  from  the  account  given  by  Charlevoix,  a  learned  French 
Jesuit,  distinguished  for  his  travels  and  authentic  historical  works. 

“  This  party  marched  out  before  they  had  determined  against  what  part  of  the  English 
frontier  they  would  carry  their  arms,  though  some  part  of  New  York  was  understood. 
Count  Frontenac  had  left  that  to  the  two  commanders.  After  they  had  marched  5  or  6 
days,  they  called  a  council  to  determine  upon  what  place  they  would  attempt.  In  this 
council,  it  was  debated,  on  the  part  of  the  French,  that  Albany  would  be  the  smallest  place 
they  ought  to  undertake ;  but  the  Indians  would  not  agree  to  it.  They  contended  that, 
with  their  small  force,  an  attack  upon  Albany  would  be  attended  with  extreme  hazard. 
The  French  being  strenuous,  the  debate  grew  warm,  and  an  Indian  chief  asked  them  ‘how 
long  it  was  since  they  had  so  much  courage.’  To  this  severe  rebuke  it  was  answered,  that, 
if  by  some  past  actions  they  had  discovered  cowardice,  they  should  see  that  now  they  would 
retrieve  their  character;  they  would  take  Albany  or  die  in  the  attempt.  The  Indians, 
however,  would  not  consent,  and  the  council  broke  up  without  agreeing  upon  any  thing 
but  to  proceed  on. 

“  They  continued  their  march  until  they  came  to  a  place  where  their  path  divided  intc 
two  ;  one  of  which  led  to  Albany,  and  the  other  to  Schenectady :  here  Mantet  gave  up  his 
design  upon  Albany,  and  they  marched  on  harmoniously  for  the  former  village.  The 
weather  was  very  severe,  and  for  the  following  9  days  the  little  army  suffered  incredible 
hardships.  The  men  were  often  obliged  to  wade  through  water  up  to  their  knees,  breaking 
its  ice  at  every  step. 

“  At  4  o’clock  in  the  morning,  the  beginning  of  February,  they  arrived  within  two  leagues 
of  Schenectady.  Here  they  halted,  and  the  Great  Agnier,  chief  of  the  Iroquois  of  the  falls 
of  St.  Louis,  made  a  speech  to  them.  He  exhorted  every  one  to  forget  the  hardships  they 
had  endured,  in  the  hope  of  avenging  the  wrongs  they  had  for  a  long  time  suffered  from  the 
perfidious  English,  who  were  the  authors  of  them ;  and  in  the  close  added,  that  they  could 
not  doubt  of  the  assistance  of  heaven  against  the  enemies  of  God,  in  a  cause  so  just. 
Hardly  had  they  taken  up  their  line  of  march,  when  they  met  40  Indian  women,  who  gave 
them  all  the  necessary  information  for  approaching  the  place  in  safety.  A  Canadian, 
named  Giguiere,  was  detached  immediately  with  9  Indians  upon  discovery,  who  acquitted 
himself  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  officers.  He  reconnoitred  Schenectady  at  his  leisure, 
and  then  rejoined  his  comrades.  It  had  been  determined  by  the  party  to  put  off  the  attack 
one  day  longer ;  but  on  the  arrival  of  the  scout  under  Giguiere,  it  was  resolved  to  proceed 
without  delay. 

“  Schenectady  was  then  in  form  like  that  of  a  long  square,  and  entered  by  two  gates,  one 
at  each  end.  One  opened  towards  Albany,  the  other  upon  the  great  road  leading  into  the 


SCHENECTADY  COUNTY. 


327 


back  country,  and  which  was  now  possessed  by  the  French  and  Indians.  Mantet  and  St. 
Helene  charged  at  the  second  gate,  which  the  Indian  women  before  mentioned  had  assured 
them  was  always  open,  and  they  found  it  so.  D’Iberville  and  Repentigni  passed  to  the 
left,  in  order  to  enter  by  the  other  gate,  but,  after  losing  some  time  in  vainly  endeavoring 
to  find  it,  were  obliged  to  return  and  enter  with  their  comrades. 

“  The  gate  was  not  only  open  but  unguarded,  and  the  whole  party  entered  without  being 
discovered.  Dividing  themselves  into  several  parties,  they  waylaid  every  portal,  and  then 
the  war-whoop  was  raised.  Mantet  formed  and  attacked  a  garrison,  where  the  only  resist¬ 
ance  of  any  account  was  made.  The  gate  of  it  was  soon  forced,  and  all  of  the  English  fell 
by  the  sword,  and  the  garrison  was  burned.  Montigni  was  wounded,  in  forcing  a  house, 
in  his  arm  and  body  by  two  blows  of  a  halberd,  which  put  him  hors  du  combat;  but  St. 
Helene  being  come  to  his  assistance,  the  house  was  taken,  and  the  wounds  of  Montigni 
revenged  by  the  death  of  all  who  had  shut  themselves  up  in  it.  Nothing  was  now  to  be 
seen  but  massacre  and  pillage  in  every  place.  At  the  end  of  about  two  hours,  the  chiefs, 
believing  it  due  to  their  safety,  posted  bodies  of  guards  at  all  the  avenues,  to  prevent  sur¬ 
prise,  and  the  rest  of  the  night  was  spent  in  refreshing  themselves.  Mantet  had  given 
;  rders  that  the  minister  of  the  place  should  be  spared,  whom  he  had  intended  for  his  own 
prisoner ;  but  he  was  found  among  the  promiscuous  dead,  and  no  one  knew  when  he  was 
killed,  and  all  his  papers  were  burned. 

“  After  the  place  was  destroyed,  the  chiefs  ordered  all  the  casks  of  intoxicating  liquors  to 
be  staved,  to  prevent  their  men  from  getting  drunk.  They  next  set  all  the  houses  on  fire, 
excepting  that  of  a  widow,  into  which  Montigni  had  been  carried,  and  another  belonging 
to  Major  Coudre  :  they  were  in  number  about  40,  all  well  built  and  furnished ;  no  booty 
but  that  which  could  be  easily  transported  was  saved.  The  lives  of  about  60  persons  were 
spared ;  chiefly  women,  children,  and  old  men,  who  had  escaped  the  fury  of  the  onset,  and 
30  Indians  who  happened  to  be  then  in  the  place.  The  lives  of  the  Indians  were  spared 
that  they  might  carry  the  news  of  what  had  happened  to  their  countrymen,  whom  they 
were  requested  to  inform,  that  it  was  not  against  them  that  they  intended  any  harm,  but  to 
the  English  only,  whom  they  had  now  despoiled  of  property  to  the  amount  of  four  hundred 
thousand  pounds.” 

The  following  ballad  is  an  interesting  relic  of  antiquity.  It  was 
written  in  1690,  to  commemorate  the  destruction  of  Schenectady,  and 
is  composed  something  in  the  style  of  the  celebrated  “  Chevy  Chase.” 


“A  BALLAD, 

“  In  which  is  set  forth  the  horrid  cruellties  practised  by  the  French  and  Indians  on  the 
night  of  the  8th  of  last  February.  The  which  I  did  compose  last  night  in  the  space  of  one 
hour;  and  am  now  writing,  the  morning  ofFryday,  June  12th,  1690.  W.  W. 


“  God  prosper  long  our  king  and  queen, 
Our  lives  and  safeties  all ; 

A  sad  misfortune  once  there  did 
Schenectady  befall. 

From  forth  the  woods  of  Canada 
The  Frenchmen  tooke  their  way, 

The  people  of  Schenectady 
To  captivate  and  slay. 

They  marched  for  two  and  twenty  daies, 
All  through  the  deepest  snow ; 

And  on  a  dismal  winter  night, 

They  strucke  the  cruel  blow. 

The  lightsome  sun  that  rules  the  day 
Had  gone  down  in  the  west ; 

And  eke  the  drowsie  villagers 
Had  sought  and  found  their  reste. 

They  thought  they  were  in  saftie  all, 
And  dreampt  not  of  the  foe : 

But  att  midnight  they  all  awoke, 

In  wonderment  and  woe. 

For  they  were  in  their  pleasant  beddes, 
And  soundelie  sleeping,  when 


Each  door  was  sudden  open  broke 
By  six  or  seven  men. 

The  men  and  women,  younge  and  olde, 

And  eke  the  girls  and  boys, 

All  started  up  in  great  affright, 

Att  the  alarming  noise. 

They  then  were  murther’d  in  their  beddes, 
Without  shame  or  remorse  ; 

And  soone  the  floors  and  streets  were  strew  d 
With  many  a  bleeding  corse. 

The  village  soon  began  to  blaze, 

Which  shew’d  the  horrid  sight : — 

But,  O,  I  scarce  can  beare  to  tell, 

The  mis’ries  of  that  night. 

They  threw  the  infants  in  the  fire,  „ 

The  men  they  did  not  spare  ; 

But  killed  all  which  they  could  find, 

Though  aged  or  tho’  fair. 

O  Christe  I  In  the  still  midnight  air, 

It  sounded  dismally ; 

The  women’s  prayers,  and  the  loud  screams 
Of  their  great  agony. 


328 


SCHOHARIE  COUNTY. 


Methinks  as  if  I  hear  them  now 
All  ringing  in  my  ear  ; 

The  shrieks  and  groans  and  woeful  sighs 
They  uttered  in  their  fear. 

But  some  run  off  to  Albany, 

And  told  the  dolefull  tale : 

Yett  though  we  gave  our  chearful  aid, 

It  did  not  much  avail. 

And  we  were  horribly  afraid, 

And  shook  with  terror,  when 
They  told  us  that  the  Frenchmen  were 
More  than  a  thousand  men. 

The  news  came  on  the  Sabbath  morn 
Just  att  the  break  of  day, 

And  with  a  companie  of  horse 
I  galloped  away. 

But  soon  we  found  the  French  were  gone 
With  all  their  great  bootye  ; 

Albany ,  12 th  of  June,  1690. 


And  then  their  trail  we  did  pursue. 

As  was  our  true  dutye. 

The  Mohaques  joynd  our  brave  partye, 
And  followed  in  the  chase, 

Till  we  came  up  with  the  Frenchmen, 
Att  a  most  likelye  place. 

Our  soldiers  fell  upon  their  rear, 

And  killed  twenty-five  ; 

Our  young  men  were  so  much  enrag’d 
They  took  scarce  one  alive. 

D’Aillebout  them  did  commando, 

Which  were  but  thievish  rogues, 

Else  why  did  they  consent  and  goe, 
With  bloodye  Indian  dogges  ? 

And  here  I  end  the  long  ballad, 

The  which  you  just  have  redde  ; 

I  wish  that  it  may  stay  on  earth 
Long  after  I  am  dead. 

Walter  Wilie. 


SCHOHARIE  COUNTY. 

Schoharie  county  was  taken  from  Albany  and  Otsego  counties  in 
1795  ;  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  30,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  25 
miles.  Centrally  distant  NW.  from  New  York  150,  from  Albany  W. 
42  miles.  In  the  western  part  of  this  county  is  the  dividing  ridge  be¬ 
tween  the  waters  of  the  Mohawk  and  those  of  the  Susquehannah  and 
Delaware.  In  the  eastern  part  it  has  the  Catskill  and  Helleberg  moun¬ 
tains.  It  has  the  valley  of  the  Schoharie  creek  north  and  south  through 
its  centre,  along  which  the  alluvial  flats  are  very  extensive,  with  a  soil 
of  loam  and  vegetable  mould,  peculiarly  rich  and  fertile.  Much  of  the 
surface  of  this  county  is  hilly,  with  some  of  a  mountainous  character. 
The  soil  of  the  uplands  is  of  various  qualities,  generally  better  adapted 
to  grass  than  to  grain.  The  Schoharie  creek,  a  large  tributary  of  the 
Mohawk,  has  its  rise  in  Greene  county,  and  flows  northward  through 
the  centre  of  this  county.  In  its  course  it  receives  several  smaller 
streams,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  Cobelskill  on  the  west,  and 
Fox  creek  on  the  east.  The  Catskill  has  its  source  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county,  and  the  Delaware  and  Susquehannah  in  the  west¬ 
ern.  The  county  is  well  watered,  and  possesses  many  fine  mill  sites. 
In  the  towns  of  Summit,  Jefferson,  Blenheim,  Broome,  and  the  up¬ 
lands  of  Middleburg  and  Fulton,  the  tenure  of  the  soil  is  generally  held 
by  lease,  the  fee-simple  being  in  proprietors  of  large  tracts  ;  but  in 
these  towns,  there  are  many  tracts  upon  the  creek,  which  the  Germans 
have  taken  up  in  fee,  the  common  tenure  of  the  northern  towns.  The 
towns  of  Schoharie,  Cobelskill,  Sharon,  Fulton,  Middleburg,  and  por¬ 
tions  of  Blenheim  and  Broome,  have  a  population  of  German  origin. 
The  German  language  prevails  among  the  older  inhabitants,  but  their 


SCHOHARIE  COUNTY. 


329 


children  are  educated  and  converse  in  English.  The  early  settlers 
suffered  much  from  Indian  hostilities,  and  during  the  revolution  the 
country  was  overrun  by  the  British  and  Indians  under  Sir  John  John¬ 
son,  Brant,  and  the  infamous  Walter  Butler.  The  county  is  divided 
into  12  towns  : 

Blenheim,  Cobelskill,  Jefferson,  Seward, 

Broome,  Conesville,  Middleburg,  Sharon, 

Carlisle,  Fulton,  Schoharie,  Summit. 


Southeast  view  in  the  central  part  of  Schoharie. 


The  town  of  Schoharie  lies  on  the  flats,  near  the  junction  of  Scho¬ 
harie  and  Fox  creeks,  32  miles  W.  of  Albany.  It  contains  about  100 
dwellings,  the  county  buildings,  1  Lutheran  and  1  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  and  an  academy.  The  above  engraving  is  a  SE.  view  in  the 
central  part  of  the  village  :  the  courthouse,  a  stone  building  3  stories 
high,  is  seen  on  the  right ;  the  Lutheran  church  and  the  academy  in 
the  distance. 

About  a  mile  N.  of  the  central  part  of  Schoharie  is  an  ancient  stone 
church,  which  was  used  as  a  fort  during  the  revolutionary  war.  When 
Sir  John  John'son  ravaged  the  Mohawk  valley  in  1780,  he  visited 
Schoharie,  and  after  making  an  unsuccessful  attack  on  the  Middle 
Fort,  he  proceeded  to  the  Lower  Fort,  as  this  church  was  called. 

“  When  they  arrived  at  the  Lower  Fort,  they  showed  little  disposition  to  attack  it, 
although  its  garrison  did  not  amount  to  100  men.  They  separated  into  two  divisions,  the 
regular  troops  marching  along  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  the  Indians  filing  off  about  half  a 
mile  to  the  east  of  the  fort.  The  regulars  fired  a  few  cannon-shot  without  effect,  one  only 
lodging  in  the  corner  of  the  church  ;  and  then,  after  sinking  one  of  their  field-pieces  in  a 
morass,  marched  round  to  the  north  of  the  fort,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  Indians. 
Here  they  fired  a  few  shot  with  small-arms,  and  a  few  of  the  Indians  approached  ne®r 
enough  to  throw  their  bullets  into  the  tower  of  the  church,  where  some  marksmen  had 
been  stationed.  A  discharge  of  grape  from  the  fort  drove  them  back,  and  they  continued 
their  march  through  the  woods  to  Fort  Hunter,  on  the  Mohawk,  near  the  mouth  of  Scho¬ 
harie  creek,  where  they  arrived  after  dark. 

42 


330 


SENECA  COUNTY. 


“  The  beautiful  valley  of  Schoharie  creek  presented  a  scene  of  devastation,  on  the  night 
of  the  17th  of  October,  not  easily  described.  Houses,  barns,  and  numerous  stacks  of  hay 
and  grain  were  consumed  ;  domestic  animals  lay  dead  everywhere  over  the  fields  5  a  few 
buildings  belonging  to  the  royalists  had  been  spared,  but  the  militia,  sallying  out,  set  fire 
to  them  in  revenge.  After  the  burning  of  Schoharie,  this  settlement  ceased  to  be  so  much 
an  object  of  tory  vengeance  ;  and  during  the  years  1781  and  1782,  though  there  were  fre¬ 
quent  alarms,  little  damage  was  done  by  the  enemy.  The  Indians  appeared  once  in  consid¬ 
erable  numbers  at  Cobbleskill,  burned  a  few  buildings,  killed  one  man,  and  carried  off  five 
prisoners ;  but  the  body  of  the  inhabitants  had  taken  refuge  in  a  fort  which  they  had  built 
on  their  return  from  Schoharie  in  1781,  and  were  safe.” — Annals  of  Tryon  County. 


SENECA  COUNTY. 

Seneca  county  was  taken  from  Cayuga  in  1804;  since  which 
other  counties  have  been  formed  from  it.  Its  greatest  length  N.  and  S. 
is  36  miles;  medium  width,  12.  Centrally  distant  from  New  York, 
317,  from  Albany,  172  miles.  The  land  rises  gently  from  the  Cayuga 
and  Seneca  lakes,  and  the  whole  county  is  pleasantly  diversified  with 
hills  and  vales.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  grain, 
grasses,  and  fruit  trees,  being  principally  a  vegetable  mould  or  calcare¬ 
ous  loam.  There  is  no  stream  of  importance  excepting  the  outlet  of 
the  Seneca  lake,  which  from  Waterloo  to  Seneca  lake  furnishes  much 
hydraulic  power.  The  lands  of  this  county  formed  part  of  the  military 
tract,  and  the  titles  therefore  are  derived  from  the  state  through  patents 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  revolution.  The  Erie  canal  just  touches  upon  the 
NE.  part,  in  the  town  of  Tyre.  The  railroad  passes  through  the  towns 
of  Waterloo  and  Seneca  Falls.  The  county  is  divided  into  10  towns  : 

Covert,  Lodi,  Seneca  Falls,  Waterloo. 

Fayette,  Ovid,  Tyre, 

Junius,  Romulus,  Varick, 

Seneca  Falls  village  is  4  miles  E.  of  Waterloo,  11  from  Geneva,  3 
W.  of  Cayuga  bridge,  85  from  Utica,  and  167  from  Albany.  This  is 
a  flourishing  village,  containing  between  400  and  500  dwellings,  1 
Baptist,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Episcopal,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Catholic 
church,  an  academy,  and  3  newspaper  printing  establishments.  There 
is  at  this  place  a  heavy  water-power  of  47  feet  over  4  dams,  putting  in 
operation  7  extensive  flour-mills,  besides  quite  a  number  of  other  mills 
and  manufacturing  establishments.  The  following  engraving  is  an 
eastern  view  of  the  village,  the  river,  and  the  Cayuga  and  Seneca  ca¬ 
nal,  with  one  of  the  locks,  &c. 

The  first  settlers  at  this  place  were  Horatio  Jones  and  Lawrence 
Van  Clief,  who  fixed  their  residence  here  shortly  after  the  revolution¬ 
ary  war.  Van  Clief  was  a  soldier  in  Sullivan’s  expedition.  The  vil¬ 
lage  of  Seneca  Falls  was  founded  in  1815,  by  Col.  Mynderse,  who 
settled  here  in  1795,  and  built  the  first  flouring-mills  in  this  section  of 
the  state.  In  1827,  the  village  contained  only  265  inhabitants. 

Ovid,  the  half-shire  seat,  is  about  17  miles  SE.  of  Waterloo.  It  is 
delightfully  situated  on  the  Newburg  turnpike.  The  village  commands 


SENECA  COUNTY. 


331 


East  view  of  Seneca  Falls  village. 


a  view  of  a  large  part  of  both  lakes,. and  of  portions  of  9  adjoining  coun¬ 
ties,  the  land  rising  gradually  to  it  from  the  lakes,  rich,  arable,  and 
finely  cultivated  in  farms.  There  are  here  1  Presbyterian  and  1  Meth¬ 
odist  church,  a  flourishing  academy,  and  about  100  dwellings. 

The  flourishing  village  of  Waterloo  is  situated  on  the  Seneca  outlet 
and  the  Seneca  and  Cayuga  canal,  4  miles  from  Seneca  Falls  village, 
7  from  Geneva,  and  167  from  Albany.  It  was  founded  in  1815,  by  the 
late  Elisha  Williams,  of  Columbia  county,  and  was  made  a  half-shire 
village  in  1822.  It  contains  about  300  dwellings,  4  churches — 1 
Episcopal,  1  Methodist,  1  Presbyterian,  and  1  Baptist — and  about 
2,000  inhabitants.  With  the  village  of  Seneca  Falls,  Waterloo  pos¬ 
sesses  the  advantage  of  the  lateral  canal  uniting  the  Seneca  and  Ca¬ 
yuga  lakes  with  the  Erie  canal.  The  water  for  the  mills  at  this  place 
is  taken  from  the  river  and  canal,  and  used  under  a  head  of  15  feet. 


STEUBEN  COUNTY. 

Steuben  county,  named  in  honor'of  Major-general  Frederick  Wil¬ 
liam  Baron  de  Steuben,  the  celebrated  tactician  of  the  revolutionary 
army,  was  taken  from  Ontario  in  1796;  boundaries  since  much  alter¬ 
ed  ;  from  Albany  centrally  distant  SW.  216  miles,  from  New  York 
W.  220  ;  length  and  breadth  40  miles.  The  surface  is  broken  and 
hilly,  if  not  mountainous.  Along  the  rivers,  the  general  aspect  of  the 
county  is  uninviting,  except  that  in  some  parts  the  alluvial  flats  are  ex¬ 
tensive  and  rich.  The  river  hills  are  rocky,  precipitous,  and  covered 
with  evergreens  ;  but  the  upland  plains  have  a  rich  variety  of  trees, 
and  fertile  tracts  principally  of  clayey  loam.  The  staples  of  the  county 
are  lumber,  grain,  cattle,  and  wool.  The  lumbering  is  the  chief  busi- 


332 


STEUBEN  COUNTY. 


ness  of  the  southern  towns  ;  but  as  the  country  is  cleared  of  its  forests, 
agriculture  rises  in  importance.  Chemung  river  is  the  great  stream 
of  the  county  ;  it  was  called  by  the  Senecas  Cononque,  “horn  in  the 
water.”  Its  flats  are  said  to  be  superior  in  fertility  to  the  Mohawk. 
This  county,  excepting  the  town  of  Reading  on  the  western  shore  of 
the  Senecalake,  was  included  in  the  extensive  cession  of  New  York 
to  Massachusetts,  and  passed  from  that  state,  through  Messrs.  Phelps 
and  Gorham  and  Robert  Morris,  to  Sir  William  Pulteney.  It  was 
mostly  settled  by  Pennsylvanians,  excepting  Prattsburg,  which  was 
settled  by  New  Englanders.  The  county  is  divided  into  27  towns  : 


Addison, 

Bath, 

Bradford, 

Cameron, 

Campbell, 

Canisteo, 

Caton, 


Conhocton, 

Dansville, 

Erwin, 

Greenwood, 

Hornby, 

Hornellsyille, 

Howard, 


Jasper, 

Lindley, 

Orange, 

Painted  Post, 

Prattsburg, 

Pultney, 

Reading, 


Troupsburg, 

Tyrone, 

Urbana, 

Wayne, 

Wheeler, 

Woodhull. 


Bath,  the  county  seat,  on  the  bank  of  the  Conhocton  river,  and  11 
miles  north  of  the  New  York  and  Erie  railroad,  is  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  villages  in  the  western  part  of  the  state.  The  public  square, 
laid  out  in  1792  by  Capt.  Charles  Williamson,  has  the  county  and 
other  public  buildings,  and  several  elegant  private  mansions.  There 
are  in  the  village,  a  bank,  4  churches,  and  about  200  dwellings.  Bath 
was  first  settled  in  1792,  by  Capt.  Charles  Williamson,  the  first  agent 
of  Sir  William  Pulteney,  after  whom  the  public  square  was  named. 
Sir  William,  who  was  a  noted  English  whig,  was  a  large  proprietor  in 
this  vicinity. 

“  At  the  head  of  the  Crooked  Lake  lies  the  flourishing  village  of 
Hammondsport,  8  miles  NE.  of  Bath,  founded  in  1826  by  Lazarus 
Hammond,  containing  1  Presbyterian  and  1  Episcopal  church,  and 
about  100  dwellings.  The  village  is  favorably  situated  for  trade,  by 
reason  of  the  lake.  It  must  become  the  port  of  the  county,  whence 
much  of  its  exports  will  seek  a  market  in  the  centre  of  the  state,  and 
at  the  towns  on  the  Hudson  river.  A  steamboat  daily  plies  between 
here  and  Penn  Yann,  the  capital  of  Yates  county  ;  thence  the  Crooked 
Lake  canal  leads  to  the  Seneca  Lake,  which  is  connected  with  the 
Erie  canal  by  the  Seneca  and  Cayuga  canal,  by  which  route  there  is 
an  uninterrupted  water  communication  with  New  York.” 

The  village  of  Painted  Post ,  22  miles  SE.  of  Bath,  at  the  junction 
of  the  Conhocton  river  with  the  Tioga,  contains  about  60  dwellings, 
and  is  a  place  much  noted  in  the  early  history  of  this  section  of  the 
country.  The  celebrated  “ painted  post”  from  which  the  town  of 
Painted  Post  derived  its  name,  formerly  stood  upon  the  bank  of  the 
river.  There  have  been  various  stories  in  relation  to  its  origin ;  the 
following  account,  taken  from  the  narrative  of  the  captivity  and  suffer¬ 
ings  of  Gen.  Fregift  Patchin,  who  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of 
Indians  under  Brant  during  the  revolution,  is  probably  correct. 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


333 


“  Near  this,  we  found  the  famous  PAINTED  POST,  which  is  now  known  over  the 
whole  continent,  to  those  conversant  with  the  early  history  of  our  country ;  the  origin  of 
which  was  as  follows.  Whether  it  was  in  the  revolution,  or  in  the  Dunmore  battles  with 
the  Indians,  which  commenced  in  Virginia,  or  in  the  French  war,  I  do  not  know  ;  an  In¬ 
dian  chief,  on  this  spot,  had  been  victorious  in  battle,  and  killed  and  took  prisoners  to  the 
number  of  about  60.  This  event  ho  celebrated  by  causing  a  tree  to  be  taken  from  the 
forest  and  hewed  four  square,  painted  red,  and  the  number  he  killed,  which  was  28,  rep¬ 
resented  across  the  post  in  black  paint,  without  any  heads,  but  those  he  took  prisoners, 
which  was  30,  were  represented  with  heads  on  in  black  paint,  as  the  others.  This  post 
he  erected,  and  thus  handed  down  to  posterity  an  account  that  here  a  battle  was  fought ; 
but  by  whom,  and  who  the  sufferers  were,  is  covered  in  darkness,  except  that  it  was  be¬ 
tween  the  whites  and  Indians.” 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

Suffolk  county,  which  comprises  about  two-thirds  of  Long  Island, 
was  organized  in  1683,  at  which  time  the  ridings  were  abolished,  and 
Long  Island  was  divided  into  three  counties,  as  they  have  remained 
ever  since.  It  is  about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  in  length,  and  in 
some  parts  twenty  in  width.  On  the  north  side  next  the  sound  the 
land  is  considerably  broken  and  hilly ;  in  the  interior,  and  on  the  south 
side,  it  is  mostly  a  sandy  plain,  covered  for  the  greater  part  with  forests 
of  pine,  in  which  the  wild  deer  is  still  an  inhabitant.  The  county  is 
not  well  watered,  the  streams  being  few  and  small.  The  chief  busi¬ 
ness  of  the  inhabitants  is  agriculture  and  fishing ;  they  also  send  large 
quantities  of  pine  wood  to  market.  The  original  settlers  of  the  county 
were  mostly  from  New  England,  and  the  inhabitants  have  ever  retain¬ 
ed  to  a  great  degree  the  habits  and  manners  of  the  Puritans.  The 
county  is  divided  into  9  towns,  all  of  which,  except  Riverhead,  were 
organized  in  1788  : 

Brookhaven,  Islip,  Smithtown, 

East  Hampton,  Riverhead,  Southampton, 

Huntington,  Shelter  Island,  Southold. 

The  following  is  a  northern  view  of  Sagg  Harbor,  situated  in  the 
NE.  corner  of  the  town,  100  miles  from  New  York.  It  has  a  good  har¬ 
bor,  lying  on  an  arm  of  Gardiner’s  Bay.  The  village  contains  400 
dwellings,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Methodist,  1  Catholic,  and  1  African 
church,  2  printing  offices,  and  about  3,000  inhabitants.  The  wealth 
and  trade  of  the  place  may  with  propriety  be  said  to  be  founded  on 
the  whaling  business. 

“  Sagg  Harbor  is  the  most  populous,  wealthy,  and  commercial 
place  in  the  county,  and  may  therefore  not  improperly  be  considered 
the  emporium  of  Suffolk.  The  capital  employed  in  trade  here  proba¬ 
bly  exceeds  that  of  the  whole  county  besides,  there  being  nearly  a 
million  of  dollars  invested  in  the  whale-fishery  alone,  employing  a  ton¬ 
nage  of  more  than  six  thousand,  exclusive  of  several  fine  packets  and 
other  vessels  engaged  in  the  coasting  business.  It  is  supposed  that 


334 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY 


no  permanent  settlement  was  attempted  here  previous  to  1730,  and 
then  only  a  few  small  cottages  were  erected  near  the  head  of  the 


Northern  view  of  Sagg  Harbor,  Long  Island. 


present  wharf,  for  the  convenience  of  those  engaged  in  fishing.  Most 
of  the  land  in  the  vicinity  was  then  covered  with  timber  and  forest, 
and  it  is  probable,  also,  that  no  inconsiderable  number  of  Indians 
dwelt  in  the  vicinity.  In  1760,  several  respectable  families  established 
themselves  here,  perceiving  that  it  possessed  many  local  advantages, 
and  built  for  themselves  comfortable  houses.  In  1767,  the  number  of 
inhabitants  had  so  increased,  that  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  house  for 
public  worship  ;  and  without  the  advantage  of  regular  preaching,  the 
people  were  accustomed  to  assemble  on  the  Sabbath  at  the  beat  of 
drum ,  and  hear  a  sermon  read  by  one  of  the  congregation.  They  be¬ 
gan  soon  after  more  largely  to  appreciate  the  commercial  facilities 
offered  by  the  adjacent  waters,  and  fresh  efforts  were  made  to  improve 
upon  the  old  practice  of  boat-whaling.  For  this  end  small  sloops 
were  fitted  out,  and  ranged  the  ocean  at  some  distance  from  the 
coast ;  but  when  a  whale  was  caught,  it  became  necessary  to  return 
to  port  for  the  purpose  of  boiling  out  the  oil  upon  the  shore.  The 
business  had  made  but  little  progress  when  hostilities  commenced  be¬ 
tween  the  mother  country  and  her  colonies  in  1775  ;  and  this  island 
being  the  next  year  abandoned  to  the  enemy,  commerce  of  every  kind 
was  of  course  suspended  till  the  close  of  the  contest  in  1783.  Sev¬ 
eral  British  ships  took  their  stations  in  the  bay,  and  this  village  was 
made  not  only  a  depot  for  military  stores,  but  the  garrison  for  a  con¬ 
siderable  body  of  soldiers.  During  the  war  it  became  the  theatre  of 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  feats  that  was  accomplished  during  the 
revolution.  It  has  generally  been  denominated  Meigs'’  Expedition, 
and  the  circumstances  are  thus  related  by  the  historians  of  that  period  : 

“  In  retaliation  for  the  burning  of  Ridgefield,  in  Connecticut,  by  Gen.  Arnold  and  the 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


335 


wretches  under  his  command,  in  April,  1777,  a  few  soldiers  from  Newhaven  went  on  a 
predatory  excursion  to  Long  Island.  A  quantity  of  provisions  had  been  collected  at  Sagg 
Harbor,  and  to  destroy  these  was  the  object  of  the  expedition.  The  enterprise  was  one 
of  the  most  spirited  and  successful  of  that  eventful  period.  Gen.  Parsons  conceived  it 
possible  to  surprise  the  place,  and  confided  the  execution  of  it  to  Lieutenant-colonel  Meigs, 
who  embarked  from  Newhaven,  May  21,  1777,  with  two  hundred  and  thirty-four  men,  in 
thirteen  whale-boats.  He  proceeded  to  Guilford,  but  on  account  of  the  roughness  of  the 
sea,  could  not  pass  the  sound  till  the  23d.  On  that  day,  at  one  o’clock  in  the  afternoon, 
he  left  Guilford  with  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  under  convoy  of  two  armed  sloops, 
and  crossed  the  sound  to  Southold,  where  he  arrived  at  6  o’clock.  The  enemy’s  troops  on 
this  part  of  the  island  had  marched  for  New  York  two  or  three  days  before,  but  it  was 
reported  that  there  was  a  party  at  Sagg  Harbor  on  the  south  branch  of  the  island,  about 
fifteen  miles  distant.  Col.  Meigs  ordered  the  whale-boats  to  be  transported  over  the  land 
to  the  bay  between  the  north  and  south  branches  of  the  island,  where  one  hundred  and 
thirty  men  embarked,  and  at  twelve  o’clock  at  night  arrived  safely  on  the  other  side  of 
the  bay  within  four  miles  of  Sagg  Harbor.  Here  the  boats  were  secured  in  a  wood,  under 
a  guard,  and  the  remainder  of  the  detachment  marched  quickly  to  the  harbor,  where  they 
arrived  at  two  o’clock  in  the  morning,  in  the  greatest  order,  attacking  the  outpost  with 
fixed  bayonets,  and  proceeding  directly  to  the  shipping  at  the  wharf,  which  they  found 
unprepared  for  defence.  The  alarm  was  given,  and  an  armed  schooner  with  twelve  guns 
and  seventy  men  began  to  fire  upon  them  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards, 
which  continued  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  but  did  not  prevent  the  troops  from  executing 
their  design  with  the  greatest  intrepidity  and  effect.  Twelve  brigs  and  sloops,  one  of  which 
was  an  armed  vessel  of  twelve  guns,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  of  hay,  corn,  oats, 
ten  hogsheads  of  rum,  and  a  large  quantity  of  merchandise,  were  entirely  destroyed.  Six 
of  the  enemy  were  killed,  and  ninety  taken  prisoners.  Not  one  of  Col.  Meigs’  men  was 
either  killed  or  wounded.  He  returned  to  Guilford  at  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  hav¬ 
ing  been  absent  only  twenty-five  hours  ;  and  in  that  time  had  transported  his  troops  by 
land  and  water  full  ninety  miles,  and  completed  his  undertaking  with  the  most  entire 
success.” 


The  village  of  Riverhead,  the  county  seat,  is  situated  upon  Peconic 
creek  or  river,  a  mill  stream,  about  2  miles  above  Peconic  bay, 
about  90  miles  from  New  York,  24  from  Sagg  Harbor,  and  23  from 
Greenport.  The  village  contains  about  70  dwellings,  a  large  proportion 
of  which  are  one  story  in  height,  1  Methodist,  1  Congregational,  and  1 
Swedenborg  or  New  Jerusalem  church,  an  academy,  and  about  500 
inhabitants. 

The  village  of  Southampton  is  built  on  a  single  street,  18  miles 
from  Riverhead.  The  village  of  Greenport,  at  the  eastern  termination 
of  the  Long  Island  railroad,  contains  3  churches  and  about  100  dwell¬ 
ings.  The  village  of  Huntington,  40  miles  W.  from  Riverhead 
and  45  from  New  York,  has  2  churches,  an  academy,  and  about 
100  dwellings  in  the  vicinity.  Patchogue,  60  miles  from  New  York, 
28  from  Riverhead,  contains  2  churches  and  about  75  dwellings.  Se- 
tauket,  on  the  N.  side  of  the  island,  is  an  ancient  village,  containing  2 
churches  and  upwards  of  100  dwellings. 

The  village  of  Easthampton,  near  the  eastern  extremity  of  Long 
Island,  about  110  miles  from  New  York,  consists  of  about  100  dwell¬ 
ings,  on  a  single  street  about  a  mile  in  length.  The  Clinton  academy 
was  erected  here  in  1785,  being  the  first  institution  of  the  kind  erected 
on  Long  Island. 

The  peninsula  of  Montauk  contains  9,000  ‘acres.  The  land  is 
owned  by  about  forty  individuals,  as  tenants  in  common.  The  In-  • 
dians  have  non-fructuary  interest  in  a  portion  of  the  land  ;  but  as  the 
race  is  nearly  extinct,  this  incumbrance  must  be  of  short  duration. 


336 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


View  of  Montauk  Point,  Long  Island. 


The  soil  is  generally  good,  and  is  used  as  pasture  land.  The  surface 
is  rough,  and  in  some  places  precipitous.  “  There  is  a  sublimity  and 
wildness,  as  well  as  solitariness  here,  which  leave  a  powerful  impres¬ 
sion  on  the  heart.  In  a  storm,  the  scene  which  the  ocean  presents  is 
awfully  grand  and  terrific.  On  the  extreme  point  stands  the  tall  white 
column  erected  by  the  government  for  a  lighthouse  in  1795,  at  an  ex¬ 
pense  of  $22,300.  It  is  constructed  of  stone,  in  the  most  substantial 
manner.” 

Gardiner’s  Island  contains  about  3,300  acres,  with  a  soil  mostly  of 
a  good  quality ;  the  nearest  point  of  distance  to  Long  Island  is  three 
miles.  Lyon  Gardiner,  the  first  settler  on  the  island,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland.  He  belonged  to  the  republican  party,  with  the  illustrious 
Hampden,  Cromwell,  and  others. 

The  notorious  pirate  William  Kidd  visited  this  island,  and  buried  a 
valuable  treasure.  From  this  circumstance,  doubtless,  have  arisen  the 
numerous  legends  respecting  the  burial  of  “  Kidd’s  money,”  in  many 
places  along  the  coast. 

“  Kidd,  on  his  homeward  passage  from  the  West  Indies  to  Boston,  where  he  was  finally 
apprehended,  anchored  in  Gardiner’s  bay,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  owner  of  the  island, 
Mr.  Gardiner,  and  under  the  most  solemn  injunctions  of  secrecy,  buried  a  pot  of  gold,  sil¬ 
ver,  aud  precious  stones.  On  the  3d  of  July,  1699,  he  was  summoned  before  Lord  Bella- 
mont,  at  Boston,  and  ordered  to  report  his  proceedings  while  in  the  service  of  the  company; 
which  refusing  to  do,  he  was  immediately  arrested,  and  transported  to  England,  where  he 
was  tried,  convicted,  and  executed  at  ‘  Execution  Dock’  on  the  12th  of  May,  1701.  He 
was  found  guilty  of  the  murder  of  William  Moore,  gunner  of  the  ship,  and  was  hung  in 
chains.  Mr.  John  G.  Gardiner  has  a  small  piece  of  gold  cloth,  which  his  father  received 
from  Mrs.  Wetmore,  who  gave  also  the  following  account  of  Kidd’s  visit  to  the  island.  ‘  I 
remember,’  she  says,  ‘  when  very  young,  hearing  my  mother  say  that  her  grandmother 
was  the  wife  to  Lord  Gardiner  when  the  pirate  came  to  that  island.  He  wanted  Mrs. 
Gardiner  to  roast  him  a  pig  ;  she  being  afraid  to  refuse  him,  roasted  it  very  nice,  and  he 
was  much  pleased  with  it.  He  then  made  her  a  present  of  this  cloth,  which  she  gave  to 
her  two  daughters  ;  what  became  of  the  other  I  know  not ;  but  this  was  handed  down  to 
me,  and  is,  I  believe,  as  nice  as  when  first  given,  which  must  be  upwards  of  a  hundred 
years.’  It  having  been  ascertained  that  he  had  buried  treasures  upon  this  island,  com¬ 
missioners  were  sent  by  Governor  Bellamont,  who  obtained  the  same,  and  for  which  they 
gave  a  receipt.” 


SULLIVAN  COUNTY, 


337 


SULLIVAN  COUNTY. 

Sullivan  county  was  erected  in  March,  1809,  from  Ulster  county, 
and  received  its  name  in  honor  of  General  Sullivan,  an  officer  of  the 
revolutionary  army.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  New  York  about  100 
miles  NW.,  and,  by  the  routes  usually  travelled,  112  SW.  of  Albany 
Greatest  length  NW.  and  SE.  45,  and  greatest  breadth  NE.  and  SW 
37  miles.  The  county  of  Sullivan  is  situated  on  the  Delaware  river, 
W.  of  Ulster  county,  in  a  region  of  broken  land.  It  contains  a  large 
proportion  of  mountainous  country.  The  Newburg  and  Cochecton 
turnpike  runs  centrally  and  westerly  across  the  county ;  and  on  this 
road  and  the  Delaware  river  are  the  principal  settlements.  The  New 
York  and  Erie  railroad  runs  through  the  southern  portion.  The 
northern  part  is  the  wildest  and  least  settled.  The  Delaware  and 
Hudson  canal  passes  through  the  valley  of  Bashe’s  kill  into  Orange, 
and  returns  from  that  county  by  the  valley  of  the  Delaware,  along 
which  it  extends  in  this  county  about  15  miles,  to  the  dam  opposite  the 
Laxawaxen  river.  The  country  along  the  Delaware  is  not  favorable 
for  agriculture  ;  generally  the  highlands  are  preferred  for  cultivation, 
being  more  dry,  and  productive  of  finer  grass  than  the  valleys,  which 
are  commonly  wet  and  cold.  Upon  the  Delaware,  and  the  streams 
which  flow  into  it,  the  inhabitants  are  chiefly  engaged  in  lumbering. 
With  the  exception  of  a  small  tract  on  the  southeast,  in  the  Minisink 
patent,  the  whole  county  was  covered  by  the  Har.denburg  patent,  un¬ 
der  which  there  are  now  some  extensive  landholders.  The  inhabit¬ 
ants  are  chiefly  of  Dutch  and  New  England  descent.  About  one-tenth 
of  the  county  only  is  improved.  It  is  divided  into  10  towns  : 

Bethel,  Forrestburg,  Mamakating,  Thompson. 

Cochecton,  Liberty,  Neversink, 

Fallsburg,  Lumberland,  Rockland, 

Monticello,  the  county  seat,  on  the  Newburg  and  Cochecton  turn¬ 
pike,  named  after  Jefferson’s  residence,  was  founded  in  1804,  by 
Messrs.  Samuel  F.  and  J.  P.  Jones,  from  New  Lebanon,  Columbia 
county,  who  were  proprietors  of  most  of  the  lands  in  the  vicinity 
Judge  Platt  Pelton  built  the  second  frame  house  here  in  1806.  The 
village  was  incorporated  in  1830,  and  consists  of  the  county  build 
ings,  2  churches,  and  about  60  dwellings,  distant  38  miles  from  New 
burg,  and  110  from  Albany.  Bloomingburg,  23  miles  W.  of  New 
burg,  was  incorporated  in  1833,  and  consists  of  about  75  dwellings,  2 
churches,  and  an  academy. 


43 


338 


TIOGA  COUNTY. 


TIOGA  COUNTY. 

Tioga  county,  taken  from  Montgomery  in  1794  ;  bounds  since 
much  altered  :  still  further  reduced  in  1836,  by  the  erection  of  Che¬ 
mung  county  from  its  western  portion.  Greatest  length  E.  and  W. 
31,  greatest  breadth  N.  and  S.  29  miles.  This,  with  Chemung  coun¬ 
ty,  is  part  of  the  broad  and  long  belt  extending  westerly  from  Ulster 
and  Greene  counties  to  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Erie,  preserving  for  a 
great  part  of  the  distance  a  mean  height  of  about  1,600  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  ocean.  The  soil  of  the  county  consists  generally  of  sandy 
and  gravelly  loam,  interspersed  with  patches  of  mud  and  clay.  The 
uplands  are  commonly  better  adapted  to  grass  than  grain  ;  but  the  val¬ 
leys  give  fine  crops  of  wheat  and  corn  ;  oats,  barley,  peas,  beans,  and 
hops  thrive  almost  everywhere.  The  Susquehannah  is  the  principal 
stream  of  the  county.  The  New  York  and  Erie  railroad  crosses  the 
county  E.  and  W.  ;  and  the  railroad  from  Owego  to  Ithaca  N.  and  S. 
The  county  is  divided  into  9  towns  : 

Barton,  Newark,  Richford, 

Berkshire,  Nichols,  Spencer, 

Candor,  Owego,  Tioga. 


West  view  of  the  courthouse  and  other  buildings ,  Owego. 


Owego  village,  the  county  seat,  is  30  miles  SE.  of  Ithaca,  and  167 
from  Albany  on  the  N.  side  of  Susquehannah  river.  The  building 
with  a  cupola  near  the  centre  of  the  drawing  is  the  courthouse,  the  one 
on  the  right  the  academy,  both  of  which  face  the  public  square.  There 
are  in  the  village  4  churches,  a  bank,  capital  $200,000,  3  fine  hotels, 
an  academy,  and  upwards  of  200  dwellings.  The  railroad  which  ex¬ 
tends  from  here  to  Ithaca,  was  the  second  chartered  in  the  state,  (1828,) 
and  is  29^  miles  in  length.  The  name  Owego  is  of  Indian  origin, 


TOMPKINS  COUNTY. 


339 


signifying  swift  or  swift  river ,  and  was  applied  to  the  Owego  creek, 
which  empties  into  the  Susquehannah  about  half  a  mile  from  the  vil¬ 
lage.  About  the  year  1783  or  1784,  James  McMaster  and  Amos 
Draper  purchased  of  the  Indians  what  they  called  a  half  tOAvnship, 
comprising  1 1 ,500  acres,  and  embracing  the  site  upon  which  the  vil¬ 
lage  now  stands.  “  In  1785,  McMaster,  and  William  Taylor,  still  liv¬ 
ing  in  Owego,  and  then  a  bound  boy  to  McMaster,  came  and  cleared 
in  one  season  10  or  15  acres  of  land,  and  through  the  summer  planted 
and  raised  a  crop  of  corn  from  the  same.  This  was  the  first  transition 
of  the  ground,  where  Owego  now  stands,  from  a  wilderness  state.  In 
1794  or  1795,  McMaster  and  Hudson,  a  surveyor,  laid  out  the  village 
into  streets  and  lots,  and  thus  laid  the  foundation  of  what  Owego  now 

is  or  shall  be  hereafter . The  sources  of  wealth,  as  the  village 

grew  up,  were  salt  from  Salina,  brought  to  the  place  and  carried  down 
the  river  in  arks  for  the  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  markets,  wheat 
from  the  north,  which  was  also  transported  down  the  river,  lumber, 
also,  and  plaster.” 

“  A  few  years  after  this  section  was  settled,  there  prevailed  an  ex¬ 
tensive  and  serious  famine.  It  was  felt  more  particularly  in  the  region 
between  Owego  and  Elmira,  embracing  Tioga.  It  was  experienced 
even  down  to  Wyoming.  For  six  weeks  or  more,  the  inhabitants  were 
without  bread  or  its  kind.  This  season  of  famishing  occurred  imme¬ 
diately  before  the  time  of  harvesting . The  inhabitants,  as  a 

substitute  for  more  substantial  food,  gathered,  or  rather,  it  is  believed, 
dug  what  were  called  wild  beans  ;  which,  it  seems,  were  found  in 
considerable  quantities.  They  would  also  gather  the  most  nutritious 
roots  and  eat  them.” 


TOMPKINS  COUNTY. 

Tompkins  county,  named  in  honor  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  D.  Tomp¬ 
kins,  formerly  Vice-president  of  the  United  States,  was  taken  from 
Cayuga  and  Seneca  counties  in  1817  ;  limits  since  changed.  Great¬ 
est  length  E.  and  W.  34,  greatest  breadth  N.  and  S.  28  miles  ;  cen¬ 
trally  distant  from  New  York  212,  and  from  Albany  163  miles. 
This  county  forms  part  of  the  high  land  in  the  southwestern  portion 
of  the  state.  Its  summit  generally  is  elevated  from  1,200  to  1,400 
feet,  but  the  singular  and  deep  basins  in  which  lie  the  Cayuga  and 
Seneca  lakes,  have  given  a  peculiar  formation  to  its  surface,  and  to 
the  course  and  character  of  its  streams.  The  Cayuga  lake  indents 
it  on  the  N.  about  18  miles  ;  the  Seneca  lake  extends  southerly  on 
its  western  border  12  miles.  The  greater  portion  of  the  country 
declines  from  all  sides  towards  the  Cayuga  lake.  The  ascent  from 
the  shores  of  the  lake  is  gradual  and  smooth  to  the  eye,  yet  it  is 
rapid,  and  attains  within  2  miles  the  height  of  at  least  500  feet. 
This  gives  to  the  streams  a  precipitous  character.  The  towns  of 


340 


TOMPKINS  COUNTY. 


Newfield,  Danby,  and  Caroline,  were  purchased  from  the  state  by 
Messrs.  Watkins  and  Flint.  The  towns  north  of  these,  excepting  a 
small  portion  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Dryden,  belong  to  the  mili¬ 
tary  tract.  That  portion  was  in  the  cession  to  Massachusetts.  The 
county  is  chiefly  settled  by  New  England  emigrants.  The  New  York 
and  Erie  railroad  passes  through  the  county.  Tompkins  county  is  di 
vided  into  10  towns  : 

Caroline,  Enfield,  Ithaca,  Ulysses. 

Danby,  Groton,  Lansing, 

Dryden,  Hector,  Newfield,  - 

The  village  of  Ithaca  was  founded  by  the  late  Simeon  De  Witt,  sur¬ 
veyor-general  of  the  state.  It  is  beautifully  situated  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  above  the  Cayuga  lake,  partially  upon  the  flats  and  partially 
upon  the  hill.  It  is  distant  163  miles  from  Albany,  40  SE.  from  Ge¬ 
neva,  and  29  from  Owego.  The  Cayuga  inlet  is  navigable  to  the  lake 
for  boats  of  50  tons.  Ithaca  is  well  located  for  trade.  It  communi¬ 
cates  with  the  Erie  canal  by  the  lake  and  Seneca  canal,  and  with  the 
Susquehannah  river  and  the  line  of  the  Erie  railroad,  by  the  Owego  rail¬ 
road.  The  village  contains  upwards  of  700  dwellings,  1  Presbyterian, 
1  Methodist,  1  Episcopal,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Dutch  Reformed  church, 
the  Ithaca  Academy,  2  banks,  several  printing  offices,  a  very  extensive 
mai-r'UOiif  King  establishment,  a  variety  of  mills  and  manufactories,  and 
about  i,000  inhabitants.  The  Ithaca  and  Owego  railroad,  the  second 
chartered  in  the  state,  (1828,)  is  29?  miles  in  length.  It  ascends  from 
the  level  of  the  lake  by  two  inclined  planes;  the  first,  1,733?  feet 
long,  rises  one  foot  in  4.28,  or  405  feet;  the  other,  2,225  feet  long,  as¬ 
cends  1  foot  in  21  feet.  The  whole  elevation  above  the  lake  over¬ 
come  is  602  feet  within  8  miles  ;  after  which  there  is  a  descent  of  376 
feet  to  Owego.  Stationary  steam-power  is  used  upon  the  first,  and 
horse-power  upon  the  second  plane  and  other  portions  of  the  road. 

Trumansburg,  11  miles  NW.  of  Ithaca,  contains  about  100  dwell¬ 
ings,  3  churches,  a  female  seminary,  and  several  stores  and  mills. 

On  Halsey  creek,  about  10  miles  from  Ithaca,  are  the  Taghcanic 
Falls.  This  cataract  is  about  200  feet  in  height,  and  the  rocks  tower 
100  feet  above  the  top.  Viewed  from  above  or  beneath,  the  scene  is 
one  of  sublimity.  The  latter,  however,  is  the  best.  To  witness  this, 
the  visiter  is  obliged  to  go  down  the  stream  about  a  mile,  and  return  by 
the  valley,  which  is  bounded  by  a  rocky  gorge,  with  perpendicular 
rocks  rising  in  some  places  400  or  500  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  creek, 
when  the  scene  bursts  suddenly  upon  him  in  all  its  wildness  and  ma¬ 
jesty. 


EASTERN  VIEW  OF  ITHACA,  TOMPKINS  COUNTY,  N.  Y 


ULSTER  COUNTY. 


341 


ULSTER  COUNTY. 


Ulster,  an  original  county,  was  organized  in  1683.  It  is  from  New 
York  centrally  distant  N.  110,  and  from  Albany  S.  60  miles.  Greatest 
length  E.  and  W.  50,  breadth  N.  and  S.  40  miles.  The  face  of  the 
country  is  mountainous.  The  Shawangunk  mountain  enters  the  county 
from  Orange,  and  running  NE.  nearly  30  miles,  sinks  into  low  and  ir¬ 
regular  hills  in  Hurley ;  but  its  continuity  is  preserved  to  Kingston 
near  the  Hudson.  Northward  of  that  village  it  again  rises,  until  it  is 
identified  with  the  Catskill  mountains.  Between  the  Blue  and  Shaw¬ 
angunk  mountains  is  a  broad  valley  through  which  winds  the  Rondout 
river,  a  stream  whose  name  is  a  corruption  of  the  word  Redoubt,  so 
named  after  a  fortification  built  upon  the  stream  by  the  early  Dutch 
settlers.  The  Wallkill  runs  a  northeast  course  south  of  the  Shawan¬ 
gunk  mountain,  receiving  the  Shawangunk  creek,  and  uniting  with  the 
Rondout,  8  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  three  streams  above  noticed 
are  the  great  drains  of  the  county,  and  afford  very  advantageous  mill 
power,  within  a  few  miles  of  the  tide,  much  of  wThich  is  yet  unem¬ 
ployed.  In  the  west  the  Nevisink  river  and  other  tributaries  of  the 
Delaware  have  their  sources.  The  Delaware  and  Hudson  canal  en¬ 
ters  the  county  at  its  southwest  border,  and  passing  through  the  towns 
of  Wawarsing,  Rochester,  Marbletown,  and  Hurley,  unites  in  the 
town  of  Kingston  with  the  Rondout,  2s  miles  from  the  Hudson.  The 
inhabitants  are  much  engaged  in  manufacturing,  and  much  attention 
has  been  given  to  the  raising  of  sheep  and  cattle,  for  which  purpose 
few  counties  are  better  adapted.  The  county  was  settled  by  the  Dutch 
as  early  as  1616.  Tradition  says  that  at  a  very  early  period  there  were 
settlers  upon  the  Minisink  on  the  Delaware,  who  transported  some  val¬ 
uable  minerals  by  the  road  along  the  Rondout  to  the  North  river.  This 
county  appears  to  have  suffered  more  from  Indian  hostilities  than  any 
other  portion  of  the  country  while  under  the  Dutch.  The  quarrel 
appears  to  have  arisen  on  account  of  an  Indian  woman  being  killed 
when  stealing  peaches  from  a  garden.  The  county  is  divided  into 
14  towns : 


Esopus, 

Hurley, 

Kingston, 

Marbletown, 


Marlborough, 
New  Paltz, 
Olive, 
Plattekill, 


Rochester, 

Saugerties, 

Shandaken, 

Shawangunk, 


Wawarsing, 

Woodstock. 


Kingston  was  one  of  the  earliest  Dutch  settlements  in  the  state,  hav¬ 
ing  commenced  in  the  year  1616,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  third 
place  settled  in  New  York.  In  the  year  1662,  it  had  a  settled  min¬ 
ster,  and  the  county  records  commence  about  that  period.  Kingston 
village,  formerly  called  Esopus,  was  incorporated  in  1805.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  the  village  as  viewed  from 


342 


ULSTER  COUNTY. 


Eastern  view  of  Kingston . 

from  a  dwelling  house  situated  on  a  gentle  eminence  a  few  rods  south 
of  the  Rondout  road.  The  Catskill  mountains  are  seen  in  the  ex¬ 
treme  distance.  The  village  is  regularly  laid  out  on  ten  streets,  and 
beautifully  situated  on  the  fertile  pine  flats  elevated  about  40  feet  above 
the  Esopus  creek.  These  flats  commence  at  Kingston  and  extend  to 
Saugerties,  about  ten  or  twelve  miles,  and  are  from  twro  to  two  and  a 
half  miles  in  width.  The  village  contains  the  county  buildings,  1  Dutch 
Reformed,  1  Episcopal,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Baptist  church,  an  acade¬ 
my,  2  banks,  3  newspaper  establishments,  a  large  iron  foundry,  and 
about  275  dwellings,  many  of  which  are  built  of  blue  limestone.  It  is 
58  miles  from  Albany,  93  from  New  York,  and  about  3  from  the  land¬ 
ing  on  Hudson  river.  The  village  of  Rondout,  about  a  mile  from  the 
Hudson,  was  founded  in  1828  by  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal 
Company,  being  a  place  of  deposite  for  their  coal.  It  contains  a  church 
and  about  75  dwellings. 

The  village  of  Kingston  was  one  of  the  largest  places  in  the  prov¬ 
ince  of  New  York  previous  to  the  revolution.  It  was  laid  in  ashes 
by  the  British  under  General  Vaughan  in  October,  1777,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  public  stores  were  destroyed.  It  is  stated  that  at  that 
period  the  village  was  nearly  as  large  as  it  is  at  the  present  time. 
Every  house,  excepting  one  in  which  Mrs.  Hammersly  resided,  was 
destroyed.  This  lady  being  acquainted  with  some  of  the  British 
officers,  it  was  spared  on  her  account.  The  following  account  of  the 
burning  of  this  place  is  from  the  Connecticut  Journal  of  October 
27th : — 

“  In  our  last  we  observed  that  the  British  proceeded  up  the  river  past  this  place.  As  they 
went  along,  they  burnt  a  few  mills,  houses,  and  boats.  On  Friday  they  reached  Esopus, 
and  there  landed  a  number  of  men,  who  marched  up  to  the  defenceless  town  of  Kingston, 
about  two  miles  from  the  river,  and  immediately  set  it  on  fire  ;  the  conflagration  was  gen¬ 
eral  in  a  few  minutes,  and  in  a  short  time  that  pleasant  and  wealthy  town  was  reduced  to 
ashes  ;  only  one  house  escaping  the  flames.  Thus  by  the  wantonness  of  power,  the  third 
town  in  this  state  for  size,  elegance,  and  wealth,  is  reduced  to  a  heap  of  rubbish  ;  and  the 


ULSTER  COUNTY. 


343 


once  happy  inhabitants,  (who  are  chiefly  of  Dutch  descent,)  obliged  to  solicit  for  shelter 
among  strangers,  and  those  who  possessed  lately  elegant  and  convenient  dwellings,  obliged 
to  take  up  with  such  huts  as  they  find  can  defend  them  from  the  cold  blasts  of  approaching 
winter.  We  learn  that  the  inhabitants  saved  the  best  part  of  their  moveable  property,  but 
some  lost  the  best  part  of  their  temporal  all.  ’Tis  said  the  enemy  took  little  time  to  plun¬ 
der,  being  told  that  General  Clinton  was  at  hand  with  1,500  men,  but  unluckily  not  so 
near  as  to  save  the  town.  They  burnt  several  vessels  and  houses  at  the  landing,  then 
scampered  off  precipitately  to  their  vessels.  Next  day  they  burnt  several  houses  at 
Rhynebeck  Flatts,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Livingston’s  manor,  where  they  burnt  a  few 
more  ;  our  troops  are  now  up  with  them.  It  is  hoped  they  will  be  able  to  put  a  stop  to 
these  depredations.” 

During  the  revolutionary  war  a  number  of  royalists  were  executed 
in  this  town  for  treason.  Judge  Hasbrouck  of  Kingston,  who  was 
at  that  time  a  lad,  says  that  two  of  them  were  executed  on  the  first 
hill  from  the  landing.  It  appears  that  these  unfortunate  men  expect¬ 
ed  to  be  reprieved  ;  when  they  drew  near  the  gallows,  and  saw  the 
preparation  for  their  execution,  they  became  overwhelmed  with  a 
sense  of  their  awful  situation,  and  exclaimed,  “  O  Heer !  vergeeven 
onze  zonde ,”  (0  Lord  !  forgive  our  sins.)  The  father  of  Judge  Has¬ 
brouck,  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  place,  although  a  firm  friend 
to  the  American  cause,  was  opposed  to  the  execution,  and  suffered 
much  anguish  of  mind  on  account  of  these  harsh  and  bloody  meas¬ 
ures.  These  men,  although  tories,  were  persons  of  respectability, 
who  had  families.  Between  twenty  and  thirty  royalists  who  were 
taken  up,  enlisted  in  the  American  army,  and  thus  saved  their 
lives. 

Ulsterville,  (late  Saugerties,)  at  the  confluence  of  the  Esopus 
creek  with  the  Hudson,  100  miles  N.  of  New  York,  44  S.  from  Al¬ 
bany,  and  10  from  Kingston.  “This  place,  now  one  of  the  most 
thrifty  on  the  river,  was  undistinguished  until  the  year  1826,  when 
Mr.  Henry  Barclay,  of  New  York,  duly  appreciating  the  value  of  the 
water-power,  became  the  purchaser  of  it  and  several  farms  in  the 
vicinity.  By  a  strong  dam  and  a  raceway,  cut  65  feet  perpendicularly 
through  the  rock,  there  has  been  obtained  the  use  of  the  water  under 
a  fall  of  47  feet,  which  may  be  applied  twice  in  its  descent.  The  en¬ 
terprising  proprietor  established  a  large  paper  mill,  extensive  iron 
works,  and  erected  a  building  for  calico  printing,  since  converted  into  a 
paint  manufactory.  The  business  of  the  county  now  centres  here  ; 
and  the  trade  employs  30  or  40  sloops  and  schooners,  of  from  80  to 
150  tons  burden.  In  1825,  there  was  not  a  single  church  here  :  there 
are  now  five  neat  edifices  for  public  worship.”  Five  miles  above 
Ulster  village,  upon  the  creek  at  Whittaker’s  Falls,  there  is  a  very 
flourishing  manufacturing  village. 


344 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 

Warren  county  was  taken  from  the  NW.  part  of  Washington  coun¬ 
ty  in  1813.  It  is  principally  situated  on  the  W.  side  of  Lake  George, 
centrally  distant  from  New  York  240,  and  from  Albany  75  miles. 
Greatest  length  N.  and  S.  44,  greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  40  miles. 
With  the  exception  of  a  small  district  on  the  SE.,  the  whole  county  is 
mountainous.  The  mountains,  which  are  of  primitive  formation,  are 
covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  trees,  and  contain,  it  is  said,  abundance 
of  iron  ore  of  good  quality,  but  have  very  small  portions  of  arable  soil. 
The  valleys,  which  are  narrow,  contain  some  fertile  alluvion,  on 
secondary  limestone.  The  principal  employment  of  the  inhabitants  is 
getting  lumber,  which  is  sent  to  market  by  the  rivers,  lake,  and  Cham¬ 
plain  canal.  This  county  embraces  about  one  half  of  the  Horicon,  or 
Lake  George,  the  greater  part  of  Schroon  lake,  the  whole  of  Brant 
lake,  and  many  smaller  ones.  The  Horicon  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water  33  miles  long,  and  about  2  wide,  and  discharges  its  waters 
northward  into  Lake  Champlain  at  Ticonderoga.  Its  waters  are  very 
deep  and  clear,  and  abound  with  the  finest  fish.  The  mountain  sce¬ 
nery  of  this  lake  is  excelled  in  its  romantic  beauties  by  none  in  the 
world.  Schroon  and  Brant  lakes  are  beautiful  sheets  of  water,  and 
abound  with  fish  similar  to  Lake  George.  The  county  is  divided  into 
10  towns,  viz. : 

Athol,  Chester,  Johnsburg,  Warrensburg. 

Bolton,  Hague,  Luzerne, 

Caldwell,  Horicon,  Queensbury, 

Caldwell,  the  shire  town  of  Warren  county,  was  organized  in 
1810,  and  named  in  honor  of  James  Caldwell,  Esq.,  a  principal  pro¬ 
prietor  and  benefactor.  It  has  a  mountainous  surface,  and  embraces 
the  south  end  of  Lake  George.  Caldwell  village  lies  at  the  head  of 
Lake  George,  62  miles  from  Albany,  9  from  Glenn’s  Falls,  and 
27  from  Saratoga  springs.  The  village  consists  of  about  50  dwell¬ 
ings. 

The  scenery  in  this  vicinity  is  of  a  wild  and  picturesque  character,  similar  to  the  High¬ 
lands  of  Scotland.  Westward  rises  a  range  of  mountains,  the  highest  of  which  is  Pros¬ 
pect  or  Rattlesnake  Hill,  which  is  an  elevation  of  about  1,500  feet.  Remains  of  Forts 
William  Henry  and  George  are  still  to  be  seen  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  a  short  distance 
east  of  the  courthouse. 

This  village  and  the  lake  have  become  quite  a  fashionable  place  of  resort  during  the  warm 
season  of  the  year.  Besides  the  attractions  of  the  natural  scenery,  it  is  rendered  interesting 
from  having  been  the  theatre  of  important  military  operations.  The  celebrated  “  Battle  of 
Lake  George,”  on  Sept.  8th,  1755,  was  fought  in  the  vicinity  of  Bloody  Pond,  so  called 
from  the  fact  that  corpses  of  the  slain  were  thrown  into  it.  The  battle  was  between  the 
provincial  troops  under  Major-general,  afterward  Sir  William  Johnson,  aided  by  a  body  of 
Indians  under  Hendrick  the  Mohawk  chieftain,  and  a  body  of  French  Canadians  andlndi- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


345 


ans  under  Baron  Dieskau,  a  French  nobleman.  The  baron  embarked  at  Fort  Frederick,  at 
Crown  Point,  with  2,000  men  in  batteaux,  and  landed  at  Skeensboro,  now  Whitehall.  Hav. 
ing  understood  that  Johnson  lay  carelessly  encamped  at  the  head  of  Lake  George,  he  de¬ 
termined  to  attack  him. 

The  following  account  of  the  conflict  that  ensued,  is  given  by  Dr. 
Dwight,  who  received  much  of  his  information  from  eye-witnesses 
of  the  action. 

On  the  night  of  Sunday,  Sept.  7,  at  12  o’clock,  information  was  brought,  that  the  enemy 
had  advanced  4  miles  on  the  road  from  Fort  Edward  to  Lake  George;  or  half  way  between 
the  village  of  Sandy-Hill  and  Glenn’s  falls.  A  council  of  war  was  held  early  in  the  morning, 
at  which  it  was  resolved  to  send  a  party  to  meet  them.  The  number  of  men,  determined 
upon  at  first,  was  mentioned  by  the  general  to  Hendrick ;  and  his  opinion  was  asked.  He 
replied,  “  If  they  are  to  fight,  they  are  too  few.  If  they  are  to  be  killed,  they  are  too  many.’’ 
The  number  was  accordingly  increased.  Gen.  Johnson  also  proposed  to  divide  them  intc 
3  parties.  Hendrick  took  3  sticks,  and,  putting  them  together,  said  to  him,  “  Put  these 
together,  and  you  can’t  break  them.  Take  them  one  by  one,  and  you  will  break  them 
easily.”  The  hint  succeeded,  and  Hendrick’s  sticks  saved  the  party,  and  probably  the 
whole  army,  from  destruction. 

The  party  detached  consisted  of  1,200,  and  were  commanded  by  Col.  Ephraim  Williams 
a  brave  and  skilful  officer,  greatly  beloved  by  the  soldiery,  and  greatly  respected  by  the 
country  at  large.  Lieut.  Col.  Whiting,  of  New  Haven,  was  second  in  command,  and 
brought  up  the  rear.  Col.  Williams  met  the  enemy  at  Rocky  brook,  4  miles  from  Lake 
George.  Dieskau  had  been  informed  of  his  approach  by  his  scouts,  and  arranged  his  men 
in  the  best  possible  order  to  receive  them,  extending  his  line  on  both  sides  of  the  road  in 
the  form  of  a  half-moon.  Johnson  did  not  begin  to  raise  his  breastwork  until  after  Williams 
had  marched ;  nor,  as  a  manuscript  account  of  this  transaction,  now  before  me,  declares, 
until  after  the  rencounter  between  Williams  and  the  enemy  had  begun. 

Williams  marched  his  men  directly  into  the  hollow  of  the  half-moon.  This  will  be  ex¬ 
plained  by  the  fact,  that  the  whole  country  was  a  deep  forest.  When  the  enemy  saw  them 
completely  within  his  power,  he  opened  a  fire  of  musketry  on  the  front  and  on  both  flanks 
of  the  English  at  the  same  moment.  The  English  fell  in  heaps ;  and  at  the  head  of  them 
their  gallant  commander.  Hendrick,  also,  was  mortally  wounded,  fighting  with  invincible 
courage  in  the  front  of  his  people.  He  was  shot  in  the  back  :  a  fact  which  filled  him  with 
disdain  and  anguish  ;  as  he  thought,  that  he  should  be  believed  to  have  fled  from  the  enemy. 
The  truth  was,  the  horns  of  the  half-moon  were  so  far  advanced,  that  they  in  a  great  meas¬ 
ure  enclosed  the  van  of  the  English,  and  fired  upon  them  from  the  rear.  From  this  fire 
Hendrick  received  the  wound  which  terminated  his  life. 

Upon  the  death  of  Col.  Williams,  Lieut.  Col.  Whiting  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
detachment.  He  was  an  officer  of  great  merit,  and  had  gained  much  applause  at  the  re¬ 
duction  of  Louisburgh ;  and,  in  consequence  of  his  gallant  conduct  at  that  siege,  had  been 
made  a  captain  in  the  regular  British  service.  Whiting,  seeing  the  danger  of  his  men, 
immediately  ordered  a  retreat ;  and  conducted  it  so  judiciously,  that  he  saved  the  great 
body  of  them  from  destruction,  in  circumstances  of  extreme  peril ;  in  which  their  own  con¬ 
fusion  and  alarm,  and  the  situation  of  the  ground,  threatened  their  extermination  no  less 
than  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy. 

The  noise  of  the  first  fire  was  heard  at  Lake  George.  Efforts  began  then  to  be  made  in 
earnest  by  the  general  for  the  defence  of  the  camp  :  and  a  party  of  300  men  were  despatched 
under  Lieut.  Col.  Cole,  to  support  the  retreating  corps.  A  few  stragglers,  both  English  and 
Indians,  came  into  the  camp,  and  announced,  what  had  indeed  been  already  sufficiently 
evident  from  the  approaching  sound  of  the  musketry,  that  the  French  army  was  superior  in 
numbers  and  strength  to  Col.  Williams’  corps,  and  was  driving  them  towards  the  camp. 
Some  time  after  “  the  whple  party  that  escaped,”  says  Gen.  Johnson,  “  came  in  in  large 
bodies a  decisive  proof  of  the  skill  and  coolness  with  which  Lieut.  Col.  Whiting  con¬ 
ducted  this  retreat.  These  men  also  arranged  themselves  in  their  proper  places,  and  took 
their  share  in  the  engagement  which  followed 

About  half  after  11  o’clock,  the  enemy  appeared  in  sight  marching  up  the  road  in  the 
best  order  towards  the  centre  of  the  English.  When  they  came  to  the  bottom  of  an  open 
valley,  directly  in  front  of  the  elevation,  on  which  Fort  George  was  afterward  built,  and  on 
which  the  centre  of  the  English  army  was  posted,  Dieskau  halted  his  men  about  15  min¬ 
utes,  at  the  distance  of  little  more  than  150  yards  from  the  breastwork.  I  have  never  seen 
a  reason  assigned  for  this  measure.  I  think  I  can  assign  one.  The  Indians  were  sent  out 
an  the  right  flank,  and  a  part  of  the  Canadians  on  the  left,  intending  to  come  in  upon  the 

44 


346 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


rear  of  the  English,  while  the  main  body  attacked  them  in  front.  The  ground  was  remark- 
ably  favorable  to  this  design  ;  being  swampy,  thickly  forested,  and,  therefore,  perfectly  fitted 
to  conceal  the  approach  of  these  parties.  The  Indians,  however,  were  soon  discovered  by 
Lieut.  Col.  Pomeroy,  who  immediately  mentioned  the  fact  to  the  general ;  and,  observing 
to  him,  that  these  people  were  extremely  afraid  of  cannon,  requested  that  one  or  two  pieces 
might  be  pointed  against  them.  They  were  then  near  the  ground  on  which  Fort  William 
Henry  was  afterward  built.  The  general  approved  of  the  proposal.  A  shell  was  instantly 
thrown  among  them  from  a  howitzer,  and  some  field-pieces  showered  upon  them  a  quantity 
of  grape-shot.  The  Indians  fled. 

The  baron,  in  the  mean  time,  led  up  his  main  body  to  attack  the  centre.  They  began 
the  engagement  by  firing  regularly  in  platoons ;  but  at  so  great  a  distance,  that  they  did 
very  little  execution.  This  circumstance  was  favorable  to  the  English;  and  soon  recover¬ 
ing  from  the  panic  into  which  they  had  been  thrown  by  the  preceding  events  of  the  day, 
they  fought  with  great  spirit  and  firmness. 

Gen.  Johnson,  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  received  a  flesh  wound  in  his  thigh, 
and  the  ball  lodged  in  it.  He  bled  freely,  but  was  able  to  walk  away  from  the  army  to  his 
tent.  Gen.  Lyman  then  took  the  command,  and  continued  in  it  during  the  action.  This 
gentleman,  who  seemed  to  have  no  passions,  except  those  which  are  involved  in  the  word 
humanity,  immediately  stationed  himself  in  the  front  of  the  breastwork ;  and  there,  amid 
the  thickest  danger,  issued  his  orders,  during  5  hours,  to  every  part  of  the  army,  as  occasion 
demanded,  with  a  serenity  which  many  covet,  and  some  boast,  but  very  few  acquire.  The 
main  body  of  the  French  kept  their  ground,  and  preserved  their  order,  for  a  considerable 
time  ;  but  the  artillery,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Eyre,  a  brave  English  officer,  who 
performed  his  part  with  much  skill  and  reputation,  played  upon  them  with  such  success, 
and  the  fire  from  the  musketry  was  so  warm  and  well-directed,  that  their  ranks  were  soon 
thinned,  and  their  efforts  slackened  sufficiently  to  show  that  they  despaired  of  success  in 
this  quarter.  They  then  made  another  .effort  against  the  right  of  the  English,  stationed 
between  the  road  and  the  site  of  Fort  William  Henry,  and  composed  of  Ruggles’  regiment, 
Williams’,  now  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Pomeroy,  and  Titcomb’s.  Here  a  warm  fire 
was  kept  up  on  both  sides  about  an  hour ;  but  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  was  unavailing. 

At  4  o’clock,  the  English,  and  the  Indians  who  fought  with  them,  leaped  over  their 
breastwork,  and  charged  the  enemy.  They  fled,  and  were  vigorously  pursued  for  a  short 
distance.  A  considerable  number  were  slain  in  the  pursuit.  The  wounded,  and  a  very 
few  others,  were  made  prisoners.  Among  these  was  Dieskau.  He  was  found  by  a  soldier, 
resting  on  a  stump,  with  hardly  an  attendant.  As  he  was  feeling  for  his  watch,  in  order  to 
give  it  to  the  soldier,  the  man,  suspecting  that  he  was  searching  for  a  pistol,  discharged  the 
contents  of  his  musket  through  his  hips.  He  was  carried  into  the  camp  in  a  blanket  by  3 
men,  with  the  greatest  care  and  tenderness,  but  evidently  in  extreme  distress. 

Hendrick  had  lived  to  this  day  with  singular  honor,  and  died  fighting  with  a  spirit  not 
to  be  excelled.  He  was  at  this  time  from  60  to  65  years  of  age.  His  head  was  covered 
with  white  locks  :  and  what  is  uncommon  among  Indians,  he  was  corpulent.  Immediately 
before  Col.  Williams  began  his  march,  he  mounted  a  stage,  and  harangued  his  people.  He 
had  a  strong  masculine  voice  ;  and,  it  was  thought,  might  be  distinctly  heard  at  the  distance 
of  half  a  mile  ;  a  fact  which,  to  my  own  view,  has  diffused  a  new  degree  of  probability  over 
Homer’s  representations  of  the  effects  produced  by  the  speeches  and  shouts  of  his  heroes. 
Lieut.  Col.  Pomeroy,  who  was  present,  and  heard  this  effusion  of  Indian  eloquence,  told 
me,  that,  although  he  did  not  understand  a  word  of  the  language,  yet  such  was  the  anima¬ 
tion  of  Hendrick,  the  fire  of  his  eye,  the  force  of  his  gesture,  the  strength  of  his  emphasis, 
the  apparent  propriety  of  the  inflections  of  his  voice,  and  the  natural  appearance  of  his 
whole  manner,  that  himself  was  more  deeply  affected  with  this  speech,  than  with  any  other 
which  he  had  ever  heard.  In  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  Sept.  25,  1755,  he  is  styled  “  the 
famous  Hendrick,  a  renowned  Indian  warrior  among  the  Mohawks  and  it  is  said  that 
his  son,  being  told  that  his  father  was  killed,  giving  the  usual  Indian  groan  upon  such 
occasions,  and  suddenly  putting  his  hand  on  his  left  breast,  swore,  that  his  father  was  still 
alive  in  that  place,  and  that  there  stood  his  son.  Baron  Dieskau  was  conveyed  from  A1 
bany  to  New  York,  and  from  thence  to  England ;  where  soon  after  he  died. 

The  capture  of  Fort  William  Henry,  at  this  place,  Aug.  9th,  1757. 
and  the  massacre  by  the  Indians,  created  a  great  sensation  in  all  the 
northern  states.  The  following  account  of  the  capture  of  the  fort, 
is  extracted  from  Professor  Silliman’s  Tour. 

The  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  after  three  ineffectual  attempts  upon  Fort  William  Henry, 
made  great  efforts  to  besiege  it  in  form,  and  in  August,  1757,  having  landed  ten  thousand 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


347 


men  near  the  fort,  summoned  it  to  surrender.  The  place  of  his  landing  was  shown  me,  a 
little  north  of  the  public  house  ;  the  remains  of  his  batteries  and  other  works  are  still  visi¬ 
ble  ;  and  the  graves  and  bones  of  the  slain  are  occasionally  discovered. 

He  had  a  powerful  train  of  artillery,  and  although  the  fort  and  works  were  garrisoned 
by  three  thousand  men,  and  were  most  gallantly  defended  by  the  commander,  Col.  Mon¬ 
roe,  it  was  obliged  to  capitulate  ;  but  the  most  honorable  terms  were  granted  to  Colonel 
Monroe,  in  consideration  of  his  great  gallantry.  The  bursting  of  the  great  guns,  the 
want  of  ammunition,  and  above  all,  the  failure  of  Gen.  Webb  to  succor  the  fort,  although 
he  lay  idle  at  Fort  Edward  with  four  thousand  men,  were  the  causes  of  this  catastrophe. 

The  capitulation  was,  however,  most  shamefully  broken  ;  the  Indians  attached  to  Mont¬ 
calm’s  army,  while  the  troops  were  marching  out  of  the  gate  of  the  fort,  dragged  the  men 
from  the  ranks,  particularly  the  Indians  in  the  English  service,  and  butchered  them  in 
cold  blood  ;  they  plundered  all  without  distinction,  and  murdered  women  and  little  chil¬ 
dren,  with  circumstances  of  the  most  aggravated  barbarity.  The  massacre  continued  all 
along  the  road,  through  the  defile  of  the  mountains,  and  for  many  miles  the  miserable 
prisoners,  especially  those  in  the  rear,  were  tomahawked  and  hewn  down  in  cold  blood  ; 
it  might  well  be  called  the  bloody  defile,  for  it  was  the  same  ground  that  was  the  scene 
of  the  battles,  only  two  years  before,  in  1755.  It  is  said  that  efforts  were  made  by  the 
French  to  restrain  the  barbarians,  but  they  were  not  restrained,  and  the  miserable  rem¬ 
nant  of  the  garrison  with  difficulty  reached  Fort  Edward  pursued  by  the  Indians,  although 
escorted  by  a  body  of  French  troops.  I  passed  over  the  whole  of  the  ground  upon  which 
this  tragedy  was  acted,  and  the  oldest  men  of  the  country  still  remember  this  deed  of 
guilt  and  infamy. 

Fort  William  Henry  was  levelled  by  Montcalm,  and  has  never  been  rebuilt.  Fort 
George  was  built  as  a  substitute  for  it,  on  a  more  commanding  site,  and  although  often 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  subsequent  wars,  was  not,  I  believe,  the  scene  of  any  very 
memorable  event. 


Distant  view  of  the  village  of  GlenrHs  Falls. 


The  village  of  Glenn’s  Falls  lies  on  the  N.  bank  of  the  Hudson,  53 
miles  from  Albany,  3  W.  from  Sandy  Hill,  and  17  from  Saratoga.  It 
received  its  name  from  a  Mr.  Glenn,  the  first  settler,  whose  house  is 
still  standing  about  20  rods  from  the  falls. 

The  above  is  a  SE.  view  of  the  village  as  seen  from  the  S.  bank 
of  the  Hudson.  There  are  here  about  120  dwellings,  1  Presby¬ 
terian,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Baptist  church,  a  female  seminary,  a 
printing  office,  and  about  a  dozen  mills  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
for  sawing  lumber  and  marble.  The  Presbyterian  and  Methodist 


348 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


churches  and  the  academy  are  seen  on  the  right,  and  part  of  the 
bridge  over  the  Hudson  at  the  falls,  on  the  left. 

These  falls  have  a  total  descent  of  about  70  feet.  The  water  flows 
in  one  sheet  over  the  brink  of  the  precipice,  900  feet  in  length,  and 
when  in  full  flood,  rushes  in  one  mass  down  the  cataract,  filling  the 
mind  of  a  spectator  on  the  bridge  with  awe  and  admiration.  In  ordi¬ 
nary  seasons  the  river  is  divided  at  the  falls  by  rocks  into  three  chan¬ 
nels,  which  have  an  angular  descent  of  several  hundred  feet.  These 
falls  have  evidently  receded  from  a  position  lower  down  the  stream. 
The  banks  below  are  in  some  places  70  feet  in  perpendicular 
height,  formed  of  rocks,  in  which  the  stratification  is  beautifully  dis¬ 
posed,  containing  many  organic  remains.  The  navigable  feeder  of  the 
Champlain  canal  is  taken  from  the  river,  two  miles  above,  and  passes 
along  the  elevated  bank  of  the  river  seen  in  the  engraving.  It  is  be¬ 
lieved  that  as  many  as  eighteen  or  twenty  persons  have  been  drawn 
over  the  falls,  within  the  memory  of  those  now  living,  only  two  of 
whom  escaped  death.  Animals  are  frequently  drawn  over,  and  almost 
invariably  perish. 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


Washington  county  received  its  present  name  in  1784,  having 
previously  been  called  Charlotte  county,  when  it  claimed  to  include  a 
part  of  the  present  state  of  Vermont.  Its  greatest  length  is  64  miles  ; 
average  breadth  to  South  Bay,  of  Lake  Champlain,  17  miles  ;  and 
thence  on  the  N.  6  miles.  Centrally  distant  from  New  York  210,  from 
Albany  60  miles. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  very  much  diversified.  That  around 
Lake  George  is  generally  rugged  and  mountainous,  presenting  sum¬ 
mits  from  600  to  1,200  feet  in  height.  All  the  northern  part  is  broken 
and  hilly.  The  southern  part,  though  considerably  uneven,  presents 
a  very  large  proportion  of  arable  land,  well  adapted  for  the  various 
products  of  agriculture.  In  the  northern  part,  which  is  comparatively 
new,  the  pine  forests  supply  large  quantities  of  lumber.  The  county 
is  abundantly  watered.  As  a  whole,  it  holds  a  respectable  rank  in  ag¬ 
riculture,  producing  much  wheat,  but  is  better  adapted  to  grass.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  population  is  from  New  England,  and  large 
emigrations  are  yearly  making  from  Vermont.  The  county  is  divided 
into  17  towns  : 


Argyle, 
Cambridge, 
Dresden, 
Easton, 
Fort  Ann, 


Fort  Edward, 

Granville, 

Greenwich, 

Hampton, 

Hartford, 


Hebron, 

Jackson, 

Kingsbury, 

Putnam, 

Salem, 


White  Creek, 
Whitehall. 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


North  view  of  Salem  village. 

The  above  is  from  a  drawing  taken  July  27th,  1840,  from  an  elevation  on  the  main 
road  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  village.  The  Presbyterian  Church  and  Court 
House  are  seen  on  the  left  of  the  engraving,  the  Congregational  Church  and  the  two 
Hotels  in  the  central  part,  and  the  Academy  on  the  extreme  right. 


Southeastern  view  of  Union  Village. 

Engraved  from  a  drawing  taken  on  the  elevated  ground  by  the  school  house,  on  the 
Easton  side  of  the  Battenkill,  July  29th,  1840.  The  Dutch  Reformed,  Baptist,  and 
Methodist  Churches  appear  in  the  view,  with  part  of  the  bridge  and  Congregational 
Church.  Village  founded  1809. 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY 


Southern  view  of  the  central  part  of  Sandy  Hill. 


During  the  war  the  town  was  burnt 
by  Burgoyne’s  army,  which  lay  encamped  here  about  six  weeks.  The  Hessians  occupied  the 
ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  new  burving-yard  at  Sandy  Hill,  while  the  Grenadiers  lay  at  Moss 
Street,  2  miles  north,  and  the  light  infantry  under  Frazer  at  Fort  Edward  Hill. 

The  site  on  which  stands  the  village  of  Sandy  Hill,  was  formerly 
the  scene  of  Indian  barbarities.  The  following  anecdote  is  related 
by  Professor  Silliman,  in  his  Tour  from  Hartford  to  Quebec  in  the 
autumn  of  1819. 

From  Mr.  IF,  a  verv  respectable  inhabitant,  I  learned  the  following  singular  piece  of  his¬ 
tory.  Old  Mr.  Schoonhoven,  recently  living  in  this  vicinity,  and  probably  still  surviving,  al¬ 
though  at  the  great  age  of  more  than  fourscore,  informed  Mr.  H.  that  during  the  last  French 
war,  he  and  six  or  seven  other  Americans  coming  through  the  wilderness,  from  Fort  William 
Henry,  at  the  head  of  Lake  George,  to  Sandy  Hill,  had  the  misfortune  to  be  taken  prisoners 
by  a  party  of  the  savages.  They  were  conducted  to  the  spot  which  is  now  the  central  green 
of  Sandy  Hill,  and  ordered  to  sit  down  in  a  row,  upon  a  log.  Mr.  Schoonhoven  pointed  out 
to  Mr.  H.  the  exact  place  where  the  log  lay ;  it  was  nearly  in  front  of  the  house  where  we 
dined.  The  Indians  then  began,  very  deliberately,  to  tomahawk  their  victims,  commencing 
at  one  end  of  the  log,  and  splitting  the  skulls  of  their  prisoners,  in  regular  succession  ;  while 
the  survivors,  compelled  to  sit  still,  and  to  witness  the  awful  fate  of  their  companions,  awaited 
their  own,  in  unutterable  horror.  Mr.  Schoonhoven  was  the  last  but  one,  upon  the  end  of  the 
log,  opposite  to  where  the  massacre  commenced ;  the  work  of  death  had  already  proceeded 
to  him,  and  the  lifted  tomahawk  was  ready  to  descend,  when  a  chief  gave  a  signal  to  stop  the 
butchery.  Then  approaching  Mr.  Schoonhoven,  he  mildly  said,  “  Do  you  not  remember  that 
(at  such  a  time)  when  your  young  men  were  dancing,  poor  Indians  came,  and  wanted  to 
dance  too;  your  young  men  said,  ‘No  ! — Indians  shall  not  dance  with  us;’  but  you  (for  it 
seems  this  chief  had  recognised  his  features  only  in  the  critical  moment)  you  said,  Indians 
shall  dance — now  I  will  show  you  that  Indians  can  remember  kindness.’’  This  chance  recol¬ 
lection  ( providential ,  we  had  better  call  it)  saved  the  life  of  Mr.  Schoonhoven,  and  of  the 
other  survivor. 

Strange  mixture  of  generosity  and  cruelty !  For  a  trifling  affront,  they  cherished  and 
glutted  vengeance,  fell  as  that  of  internals,  without  measure  ot  retribution,  or  discrimination 
of  objects ;  for  a  favor  equally  trifling,  they  manifested  magnanimity  exceeding  all  corres¬ 
pondence  to  the  benefit,  and  capable  of  arresting  the  stroke  of  death,  even  when  falling  with 
the  rapidity  of  lightning. 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


349 

Whitehall,  organized  in  1788,  has  a  great  diversity  of  surface 
The  soil  is  principally  a  stiff  clay,  well  adapted  to  grass.  Pop.  4,724 


Northern  view  of  Whitehall. 

1840. 

The  above  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  the  village  of  White¬ 
hall  as  seen  from  the  rocky  eminence  which  rises  perpendicularly 
from  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain,  a  short  distance  to  the  north 
overlooking  the  harbor.  The  village  is  compactly  built,  and  lies  in  a 
rocky  ravine,  at  the  junction  of  Wood  creek  and  the  Champlain  cana 
with  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain,  73  miles  from  Albany  and  21 
from  Sandy  Hill.  The  mouth  of  the  creek  and  canal  are  seen  in  the 
central  part  of  the  engraving.  The  waters  of  the  canal  descend  a 
distance  of  26  feet  by  three  locks.  There  is  a  steamboat  communi¬ 
cation  with  this  place  and  St.  Johns  in  Canada,  150  miles  distant. 
The  steamboat  landing  is  seen  on  the  left  at  the  foot  of  a  rocky  emi¬ 
nence  about  200  feet  high  ;  the  Presbyterian  and  Episcopal  churches 
are  on  the  right.  The  village,  which  is  a  place  of  extensive  business, 
consists  of  about  150  dwellings,  a  number  of  mills,  many  warehouses 
for  the  commission  and  forwarding  business,  a  number  of  churches, 
and  a  bank.  In  the  vicinity  are  the  decaying  hulks  of  the  British  ves¬ 
sels  captured  by  Com.  McDonough  during  the  last  war  off  Plattsburg. 

The  Indian  name  of  this  place  was  Kah-cho-quah-na,  “  the  place  where  dip-fish It 
was  formerly  called  Skenesborough,  so  named  from  Maj.  Skene,  a  royalist,  who  resided 
here  previous  to  the  revolution.  The  pass  at  this  place  was  seized  by  a  detachment  of  vol¬ 
unteers  from  Connecticut  in  May,  1775.  Maj.  Skene  and  his  family,  with  a  number  of 
soldiers  and  several  small  pieces  of  cannon,  were  taken.  When  Ticonderoga  was  aban¬ 
doned  on  the  approach  of  Burgoyne,  the  public  stores  were  embarked  on  board  of  200 
batteaux  and  sent  up  the  lake  to  Skenesborough  under  a  convoy  of  5  galleys.  They  were 
pursued  by  a  British  brigade  of  gun-boats  and  overtaken  at  Skenesborough.  Two  of  the 
galleys  were  taken,  and  the  other  three  blown  up,  and  the  Americans  being  unable  to  make 
an  effectual  stand,  set  fire  to  the  works,  fort,  mills,  batteaux,  and  escaped  as  they  could  to 
Fort  Ann.  This  place  was  occupied  by  Burgoyne  as  his  head-quarters  for  a  considerable 
time  while  his  troops  were  clearing  a  road  to  Ford  Edward.  On  the  heights  overlooking 
the  harbor  are  the  remains  of  a  battery  and  blockhouse. 


350 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


Salem  village,  the  half-shire  village  of  Washington  county,  was  in¬ 
corporated  in  1803,  and  is  46  miles  from  Albany,  and  21  from  Sandy 
Hill.  It  consists  of  100  dwellings,  the  county  buildings,  2  churches, 
and  an  academy  of  high  repute. 

Salem  was  first  settled  about  the  year  1756,  by  two  companies  of 
emigrants,  one  from  Scotland  and  Ireland,  the  other  from  New  Eng¬ 
land.  They  worshipped  together  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Clark,  an  Irish  preacher,  till  differences  arose  about  “  occa¬ 
sional  communion,”  and  about  “  receiving  the  covenant  of  the  three 
kingdoms.”  This  controversy  occasioned  a  separation  in  1769.  A 
Presbyterian  church  was  formed,  and  the  Rev.  John  Warford,  the  first 
minister,  was  installed  in  1789.  He  labored  about  14  years,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Samuel  Tomb,  who  continued  in  the  ministry  till 
his  death  in  1832.  His  successors  have  been  Rev.  John  Whiton  and 
Rev.  A.  B.  Lambert.  The  first  Presbyterian  church  was  built  in 
1774,  and  for  three  years  it  was  used  for  barracks  and  a  storehouse. 
It  was  burnt  by  the  royalists  in  1778.  The  next  house  was  built  im¬ 
mediately  after  the  war,  and  was  burnt  by  accident  in  1836.  The 
third,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  was  burnt  in  April,  1840  ;  another 
is  now  erected. 

Union  village,  on  the  Battenkill,  is  a  flourishing  manufacturing  place 
35  miles  from  Albany,  12  from  Salem,  and  5  E.  from  Scbuylerville. 
It  contains  4  churches,  an  academy,  a  bank,  a  number  of  factories  and 
mills,  and  about  1,500  inhabitants.  Granville  Corners,  63  miles  from 
Albany  and  17  from  Salem,  is  a  compact  settlement  of  about  75  dwell¬ 
ings,  3  churches,  an  academy,  a  factory,  &c.  Middle  and  West 
Granville  are  both  substantial  villages.  Sandy  Hill,  a  village  in  the 
town  of  Kingsbury,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Hudson,  is  the  half-shire 
village  of  the  county,  and  was  incorporated  in  1810.  It  is  situated 
upon  a  high  sandy  plain,  about  100  feet  above  the  river,  opposite  Ba¬ 
ker’s  Falls,  where,  in  the  course  of  60  rods,  the  river  descends  76  feet. 
The  contemplated  railroad  from  Saratoga  to  Whitehall  is  to  cross  the 
Hudson  here  by  a  viaduct  1,100  feet  in  length.  The  village  is  48 
miles  from  Albany,  and  contains  a  Presbyterian  and  Episcopal  church, 
and  upwards  of  100  dwelling-houses.  James  Bradshaw  was  the  first 
settler  in  the  village,  and  the  second  was  Albert  Baker,  who  came  here 
in  1768.  His  family  was  the  11th  which  settled  in  Kingsbury.  The 
first  minister  in  the  town  was  Francis  Baylor,  a  Moravian.  He  re¬ 
mained  but  a  short  time,  and  left  in  the  year  1777.  The  meeting¬ 
house  was  built  soon  after  the  revolution.  During  the  revolutionary 
war,  the  town  was  burnt  by  Burgoyne’s  army. 

Two  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Kingsbury  is  the  spot  where  a 
bloody  battle  was  fought  in  the  French  war,  between  a  body  of  troops 
under  Putnam  and  Rogers,  and  500  French  and  Indians  commanded 
by  Molang. 

“  In  the  month  of  August,  1758,  five  hundred  men  were  employed,  under  the  orders  of 
Majors  Rogers  and  Putnam,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  near  Ticonderoga.  At 
South  Bay  they  separated  the  party  into  two  equal  divisions,  and  Rogers  took  a  position 
on  Wood  Creek,  twelve  miles  distant  from  Putnam. 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


351 


“  Upon  being,  some  time  afterward,  discovered,  they  formed  a  reunion,  and  concerted 
measures  for  returning  to  Fort  Edward.  Their  march  through  the  woods  was  in  three  divisions, 
by  files  :  the  right  commanded  by  Rogers,  the  left,  by  Putnam,  and  the  centre  by  Captain 
D’Ell.  The  first  night  they  encamped  on  the  banks  of  Clear  River,  about  a  mile  from  old  Fort 
Ann,  which  had  been  formerly  built  by  General  Nicholson.  Next  morning  Major  Rogers, 
and  a  British  officer  named  Irwin,  incautiously  suffered  themselves,  from  a  spirit  of  false  emu¬ 
lation,  to  be  engaged  in  firing  at  a  mark.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  repugnant  to  the 
military  principles  of  Putnam  than  such  conduct,  or  reproba  ted  by  him  in  more  pointed  terms. 
As  soon  as  the  heavy  dew  which  had  fallen  the  preceding  night  would  permit,  tne  detachment 
moved  in  one  body,  Putnam  being  in  front,  D’Ell  in  centre,  and  Rogers  in  the  rear.  The  imper¬ 
vious  growth  of  snrubs  and  under-brush  that  had  sprung  up,  where  the  land  had  been  partially 
cleared  some  years  before,  occasioned  this  change  in  the  order  of  march.  At  the  moment  of 
moving,  the  famous  French  partisan  Molang,  who  had  been  sent  with  five  hundred  men  to 
intercept  our  party,  was  not  more  than  one  mile  and  a  half  distant  from  them.  Having 
heard  the  firing,  he  hastened  to  lay  an  ambuscade  precisely  in  that  part  of  the  wood  most  fa¬ 
vorable  to  his  project.  Major  Putnam  was  just  emerging  from  the  thicket,  into  the  common 
forest,  when  the  enemy  rose,  and  with  discordant  yells  and  whoops,  commenced  an  attack 
upon  the  right  of  his  division.  Surprised,  but  undismayed,  Putnam  halted,  returned  the  fire, 
and  passed  the  word  for  the  other  divisions  to  advance  for  his  support.  D’Ell  came.  The 
action,  though  widely  scattered,  and  principally  fought  between  man  and  man,  soon  grew 
general  and  Intensely  warm.  It  would  be  as  difficult  as  useless  to  describe  this  irregular  and 
Ferocious  mode  of  fighting.  Rogers  came  not  up ;  but,  as  he  declared  afterward,  formed  a 
circular  file  between  our  party  and  Wood  creek,  to  prevent  their  being  taken  in  rear  or  enfi¬ 
laded.  Successful  as  he  commonly  was,  his  conduct  did  not  always  pass  without  unfavorable 
imputation.  Notwithstanding,  it  was  a  current  saying  in  the  camp,  ‘  that  Rogers  always  sent, 
but  Putnam  led  his  men  to  action,’  yet,  in  justice,  it  ought  to  be  remarked  here,  that  the  latter 
has  never  been  known,  in  relating  the  story  of  this  day’s  disaster,  to  affix  any  stigma  upon  the 
conduct  of  the  former. 

“  Major  Putnam,  perceiving  it  would  be  impracticable  to  cross  the  creek,  determined  to 
maintain  his  ground.  Inspired  by  his  example,  the  officers  and  men  behaved  with  great  bra¬ 
very  :  sometimes  they  fought  aggregately  in  open  view,  and  sometimes  individually  under 
cover ;  taking  aim  from  behind  the  bodies  of  trees,  and  acting  in  a  manner  independent  of 
each  other.  For  himself,  having  discharged  his  fuzee  several  times,  at  length  it  missed  fire 
while  the  muzzle  was  pressed  against  the  breast  of  a  large  and  well  proportioned  savage 
This  icarrior,  availing  himself  of  the  indefensible  attitude  of  his  adversary,  with  a  tremendous 
war-whoop,  sprang  forward,  with  his  lifted  hatchet,  and  compelled  him  to  surrender ;  and 
having  disarmed  and  bound  him  fast  to  a  tree,  returned  to  the  battle. 

“  The  intrepid  Captains  D’Ell  and  Harman,  who  now  commanded,  were  forced  to  give 
ground  for  a  little  distance :  the  savages  conceiving  this  to  be  the  certain  harbinger  of  victory, 
rushed  impetuously  on,  with  dreadful  and  redoubled  cries.  But  our  two  partisans,  collecting 
a  handful  of  brave  men,  gave  the  pursuers  so  warm  a  reception  as  to  oblige  them,  in  turn,  to 
retreat  a  little  beyond  the  spot  at  which  the  action  had  commenced.  Here  they  made  a  stand. 
This  change  of  ground  occasioned  the  tree  to  which  Putnam  was  tied  to  be  directly  between 
the  fire  of  the  two  parties.  Human  imagination  can  hardly  figure  to  itself  a  more  deplorable 
situation.  The  balls  flew  incessantly  from  either  side,  many  struck  the  tree,  while  some  passed 
through  the  sleeves  and  skirts  of  his  coat.  In  this  state  of  jeopardy,  unable  to  move  his  body, 
to  stir  his  limbs,  or  even  to  incline  his  head,  he  remained  more  than  an  hour  So  equally 
balanced,  and  so  obstinate  was  the  fight!  At  one  moment,  while  the  battle  swerved  in  favor 
of  the  enemy,  a  young  savage  chose  an  odd  way  of  discovering  his  humor.  He  found  Putnam 
bound.  He  might  have  despatched  him  at  a  blow.  But  he  loved  better  to  excite  the  terrors 
of  the  prisoner,  by  hurling  a  tomahawk  at  his  head,  or  rather  it  should  seem  his  object  was  to 
see  how  near  he  could  throw  it  without  touching  him — the  weapon  struck  in  the  tree  a  num¬ 
ber  of  times  at  a  hair’s  breadth  distance  from  the  mark.  When  the  Indian  had  finished  his 
amusement,  a  French  bas-officer  (a  much  more  inveterate  savage  by  nature,  though  descended 
from  so  humane  and  polished  a  nation)  perceiving  Putnam,  came  up  to  him,  and,  levelling  a 
fuzee  within  a  foot  of  his  breast,  attempted  to  discharge  it — it  missed  fire.  Ineflectually  aid 
the  intended  victim  solicit  the  treatment  due  to  his  situation,  by  repeating  that  he  was  a  pri¬ 
soner  of  war.  The  degenerate  Frenchman  did  not  understand  the  language  of  honor  or  of 
nature :  deaf  to  their  voice,  and  dead  to  sensibility,  he  violently,  and  repeatedly,  pushed  the 
muzzle  of  his  gun  against  Putnam’s  ribs,  and  finally  gave  him  a  cruel  blow  on  the  jaw  with 
the  butt-end  of  his  piece.  After  this  dastardly  deed  he  left  him. 

“  At  length  the  active,  intrepidity  of  D’Ell  and  Harman,  seconded  by  the  persevering  valor 
of  their  followers,  prevailed.  They  drove  from  the  field  the  enemy,  who  left  about  ninety 
dead  behind  them.  As  they  were  retiring,  Putnam  was  untied  by  the  Indian  who  had  made 
him  prisoner,  and  whom  he  afterward  called  master.  Having  been  conducted  for  some  dis¬ 
tance  from  the  place  of  action,  he  was  stripped  of  his  coat,  vest,  stockings,  and  shoes;  loaded 
with  as  many  of  the  packs  of  the  wounded  as  could  be  piled  upon  him ;  strongly  pinioned, 
and  his  wrists  tied  as  closely  together  as  they  could  be  pulled  with  a  cord.  After  he  had 
marched,  through  no  pleasant  paths,  in  this  painful  manner,  for  many  a  tedious  mile,  the  party 
(who  were  excessively  fatigued)  halted  to  breathe.  His  hands  were  now  immoderately 
swelled  from  the  tightness  of  the  ligature;  and  the  pain  had  become  intolerable.  His  feet 
were  so  much  scratched,  that  the  blood  dropped  fast  from  them.  Exhausted  with  bearing  a 
burden  above  his  strength,  and  frantic  with  torments  exquisite  beyond  endurance,  he  entreated 
the  Irish  interpreter  to  implore,  as  the  last  and  only  grace  he  desired  of  the  savages,  that  they 


352 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


would  knock  him  on  the  head,  and  take  his  scalp  at  once,  or  loose  his  hands.  A  French 
officer,  instantly  interposing,  ordered  his  hands  to  be  unbound,  and  some  of  the  packs  to  be 
taken  off.  By  this  time  the  Indian  who  captured  him,  and  had  been  absent  with  the  wound¬ 
ed,  coming  up,  gave  him  a  pair  of  moccasins,  and  expressed  great  indignation  at  the  un¬ 
worthy  treatment  his  prisoner  had  suffered. 

“  That  savage  chief  again  returned  to  the  care  of  the  wounded,  and  the  Indians,  about  two 
hundred  in  number,  went  before  the  rest  of  the  party  to  the  place  where  the  whole  were  that 
night  to  encamp.  They  took  with  them  Major  Putnam,  on  whom,  besides  innumerable  other 
outrages,  they  had  the  barbarity  to  inflict  a  deep  wound  with  the  tomahawk  in  the  left  cheek. 
His  sufferings  were  in  this  place  to  be  consummated.  A  scene  of  horror,  infinitely  greater 
than  had  ever  met  his  eyes  before,  was  now  preparing.  It  was  determined  to  roast  him  alive. 
For  this  purpose  they  led  him  into  a  dark  forest,  stripped  him  naked,  bound  him  to  a  tree, 
and  piled  dry  brush,  with  other  fuel,  at  a  small  distance,  in  a  circle  round  him.  They  ac¬ 
companied  their  labors,  as  if  for  his  funeral  dirge,  with  screams  and  sounds  inimitable  but  by 
savage  voices.  They  then  set  the  piles  on  fire.  A  sudden  shower  damped  the  rising  flame. 
Still  they  strove  to  kindle  it,  until,  at  last,  the  blaze  ran  fiercely  round  the  circle.  Major 
Putnam  soon  began  to  feel  the  scorching  heat.  His  hands  were  so  tied  that  he  could  move 
his  body.  He  often  shifted  sides  as  the  fire  approached.  This  sight,  at  the  very  idea  of 
which  all  but  savages  must  shudder,  afforded  the  highest  diversion  to  his  inhuman  torment¬ 
ors,  who  demonstrated  the  delirium  of  their  joy  by  correspondent  yells,  dances,  and  gesticu¬ 
lations.  He  saw  clearly  that  his  final  hour  was  inevitably  come.  He  summoned  all  his 
resolution,  and  composed  his  mind,  as  far  as  the  circumstances  could  admit,  to  bid  an  eter¬ 
nal  farewell  to  all  he  held  most  dear.  To  quit  the  world  would  scarcely  have  cost  a  single 
pang,  but  for  the  idea  of  home,  but  for  the  remembrance  of  domestic  endearments,  of  the 
affectionate  partner  of  his  soul,  and  of  their  beloved  offspring.  His  thought  was  ultimately 
fixed  on  a  happier  state  of  existence,  beyond  the  tortures  he  was  beginning  to  endure.  The 
bitterness  of  death,  even  of  that  death  which  is  accompanied  with  the  keenest  agonies,  was, 
in  a  manner,  past — nature,  with  a  feeble  struggle,  was  quitting  its  last  hold  on  sublunary 
things — when  a  French  officer  rushed  through  the  crowd,  opened  a  way  by  scattering  the 
burning  brands,  and  unbound  the  victim.  It  was  Molang  himself— to  whom  a  savage,  un¬ 
willing  to  see  another  human  sacrifice  immolated,  had  run  and  communicated  the  tidings. 
That  commandant  spurned  and  severely  reprimanded  the  barbarians,  whose  nocturnal  pow¬ 
wows  and  hellish  orgies  he  suddenly  ended.  Putnam  did  not  want  for  feeling  or  gratitude. 
The  French  commander,  fearing  to  trust  him  alone  with  them,  remained  until  he  could  de¬ 
liver  him  in  safety  into  the  hands  of  his  master. 

“  The  savage  approached  his  prisoner  kindly,  and  seemed  to  treat  him  with  particular  af¬ 
fection.  He  offered  him  some  hard  biscuit ;  but  finding  that  he  could  not  chew  them,  on 
account  of  the  blow  he  had  received  from  the  Frenchman,  this  more  humane  savage  soaked 
some  of  the  biscuit  in  water,  and  made  him  suck  the  pulp-like  part.  Determined,  however, 
not  to  lose  his  captive,  (the  refreshment  being  finished,)  he  took  the  moccasins  from  his  feet, 
and  tied  them  to  one  of  his  wrists:  then  directing  him  to  lie  down  on  his  back  upon  the  bare 
ground,  he  stretched  one  arm  to  its  full  length,  and  bound  it  fast  to  a  young  tree  ;  the  other 
arm  was  extended  and  bound  in  the  same  manner — his  legs  were  stretched  apart  and  fastened 
to  two  saplings.  Then  a  number  of  tall,  but  slender  poles  were  cut  down,  which,  with  some 
long  bushes,  were  laid  across  his  body  from  head  to  foot ;  on  each  side  lay  as  many  Indians 
as  could  conveniently  find  lodging,  in  order  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  his  escape.  In  this 
disagreeable  and  painful  posture  he  remained  until  morning.  During  this  night,  the  longest 
and  most  dreary  conceivable,  our  hero  used  to  relate  that  he  felt  a  ray  of  cheerfulness  come 
casually  across  his  mind,  and  could  not  even  refrain  from  smiling  when  he  reflected  on  this 
ludicrous  group  for  a  painter,  of  which  he  himself  was  the  principal  figure. 

“  The  next  day  he  was  allowed  his  blanket  and  moccasins,  and  permitted  to  march  with¬ 
out  carrying  any  pack,  or  receiving  any  insult.  To  allay  his  extreme  hunger,  a  little  bear’s 
meat  was  given,  which  he  sucked  through  his  teeth.  At  night  the  party  arrived  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  the  prisoner  was  placed  under  the  care  of  a  French  guard.  The  savages,  who 
had  been  prevented  from  glutting  their  diabolical  thirst  for  blood,  took  other  opportunity  of 
manifesting  their  malevolence  for  the  disappointment,  by  horrid  grimaces  and  angry  ges¬ 
tures ;  but  they  were  suffered  no  more  to  offer  violence  or  personal  indignity  to  him. 

“  After  having  been  examined  by  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  Major  Putnam  was  conduct¬ 
ed  to  Montreal  hy  a  French  officer,  who  treated  him  with  the  greatest  indulgence  and  hu¬ 
manity.” — Humphrey's  Life  of  Putnam. 


The  village  of  Fort  Ann,  on  Wood  creek  and  the  canal,  58  miles 
from  Albany,  and  10  S.  from  Whitehall,  contains  about  50  dwellings, 
and  3  churches.  It  is  situated  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Ann,  erected  in 
1757,  and  was  a  place  of  some  importance  during  the  colonial  wars. 
About  two  miles  south  of  the  village,  vestiges  of  Burgoyne’s  road, 
constructed  of  logs,  &c.,  in  1777,  are  still  to  be  seen. 

Fort  Edward  is  a  small  village,  situated  on  the  Hudson  river  and 
Champlain  canal,  47  miles  from  Albarfy,  and  about  3  from  Sandy  Hill, 


MURDER  OF  MISS  McCREA. 


In  1777,  during  the  Expedition  of  Gen.  Burgovne  two  Indian  Ghinf-  ™ 
empioyed  to  bring  Miss  McCrea  to  a  place'of  Wfltv  "dtidn  ^  BHtS 

scalp  a,Sl,SriJiu„tcrtv^'™rd'  ~  ^ 


r 

t  .i,  • 


I 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


353 


There  is  a  dam  above  the  village  900  feet  long  and  27  high,  which 
supplies  a  feeder  to  the  canal. 


The  Jane  M'Crea  tree,  Fort  Edward. 


The  village  of  Fort  Edward  is  rendered  memorable  as  being  the  spot  where  Miss  M’Crea 
met  with  her  tragical  fate.  This  unfortunate  young  woman  lived  about  four  miles  south 
from  Fort  Edward,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson.  Her  lover,  a  Mr.  Jones,  lived  about 
a  mile  south  of  the  fort.  When  Burgoyne  with  his  army  from  Canada  had  arrived  in  this 
vicinity,  Mr.  Jones  left  the  American  army,  and  with  many  of  his  neighbors  joined  the 
forces  under  Burgoyne.  For  his  loyalty  he  was  made  a  major.  As  the  place  where  Miss 
M'Crea  resided  was  exposed  to  the  hostile  incursions  of  both  armies,  Mr.  Jones,  being 
anxious  for  her  safety,  found  means  to  convey  intelligence  to  her  that  he  would  take  meas¬ 
ures  to  have  her  brought  into  the  British  camp.  For  this  purpose  she  was  directed  to  come 
to  Mrs.  Campbell’s,  a  relative  of  hers,  who  lived  in  a  house  now  standing  in  Fort  Edward 
village.  Here  she  was  to  wait  till  he  sent  a  convoy  for  her  safety.  Miss  M’Crea  left  her 
home  in  the  morning,  crossed  the  river  by  Mr.  Jones’  house,  took  breakfast  “  at  the  old 
Baldwin  house,”  near  by  Fort  Edward,  and  from  thence  went  to  Mrs.  Campbell’s. 

It  appears  that  Mr.  Jones,  by  offering  a  quantity  of  rum  as  a  reward,  induced  a  party 
of  Indians  to  go  for  Miss  M’Crea,  and  bring  her  into  the  British  camp.  Some  accounts 
state  that  when  the  Indians  came  near  the  house  they  held  up  a  letter  to  allay  her  fears, 
which  being  from  her  lover,  she  did  not  hesitate  to  venture  herself  with  them.  The  In¬ 
dians  also  took  Mrs.  Campbell  with  them.  When  this  party  had  proceeded  but  a  short 
distance,  about  half  way  up  the  elevation  north  of  the  village,  they  were  met  by  another 
party  of  Indians.  It  is  stated  that  the  latter,  hearing  of  the  offer  of  Mr.  Jones,  deter¬ 
mined  to  share  a  portion  of  the  reward.  This  brought  on  a  contention  between  them, 
which  rose  to  such  a  height,  that  an  aged  Indian  chief,  fearful  of  the  consequences,  de¬ 
termined  to  end  the  dispute.  Approaching  Miss  M’Crea,  he  shot  her  dead  as  she  sat  on 
her  horse.  He  then  sprang  forward,  sunk  his  tomahawk  into  her  head,  and  then  scalped 
her.  “  Tradition  reports,  that  the  Indians  divided  the  scalp,  and  that  each  party  carried 
half  of  it  to  the  agonized  lover.” 

She  was  now  stripped  of  her  clothing,  and  dragged  about  thirty  rods  west  of  the  place 
where  she  was  killed,  and  laid  under  a  log  by  the  side  of  the  ancient  pine  represented  in 
the  engraving.  It  is  stated  by  those  who  saw  her  remains,  that  they  exhibited  a  most 
shocking  spectacle  ;  her  limbs  were  much  swollen,  and  covered  with  dust  and  blood.  An 
American  officer,  Lieutenant  Palmer,  who  had  been  slain  that  day  by  the  Indians  with 
18  of  his  men,  about  80  rods  northwest  of  the  pine  tree,  was  also  thrown  under  the  log 

45 


354 


WAYNE  COUNTY7. 


near  Miss  M’Crea,  and  the  remains  of  both  partially  covered  with  brushwood  and  bushes. 
The  engraving  shows  the  appearance  of  the  spot  where  the  body  of  Miss  M’Crea  was 
found.  The  pine  tree  which  was  then  standing,  still  remains,  having  a  venerable  and  an¬ 
cient  appearance.  Pier  name  is  inscribed  on  the  tree,  with  the  date  1777,  and  “  no  trav¬ 
eller  passes  this  spot  without  spending  a  plaintive  moment  in  contemplating  the  untimely 
fate  of  youth  and  loveliness.”  At  its  root  it  is  about  5  feet  in  diameter,  standing  about  4 
rods  west  from  the  road  to  Sandy  Hill,  and  about  80  rods  north  of  the  village,  on  the  side 
of  a  sandy  ridge.  A  fine  spring  issues  a  few  feet  below  this  tree.  The  bodies  of  Miss 
M’Crea  and  Lieutenant  Palmer  were  taken  and  buried  three  miles  below  the  fort,  near 
what  was  called  the  “  Hack  house.”  About  18  years  since,  her  remains  were  taken  up 
and  re-interred  in  a  village  burying  ground  at  Fort  Edward  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  of 
Albany,  preached  a  funeral  sermon  on  the  occasion.  At  the  time  of  her  death  she  was 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  and  is  represented  as  having  been  of  a  middling  stature,  finely 
formed,  dark  hair,  and  uncommonly  beautiful.  Mr.  Jones,  who  was  about  25,  survived 
her  death  but  a  short  period,  and  it  is  said  his  hair  turned  gray  the  first  night  after  receiv¬ 
ing  the  fatal  ne\Vs. 


WAYNE  COUNTY. 


Wayne  county7  was  taken  from  the  NW.  corner  of  Ontario,  and  the 
N.  of  Seneca  counties,  in  1823.  Greatest  length  from  E.  to  W.  35 
miles,  greatest  breadth  N.  and  S.  30. 

The  surface  is  much  diversified ;  on  the  N.  the  ancient  beach  of 
Lake  Ontario  extends  with  the  lake  E.  and  W.  from  it  4  to  8  miles  ; 
forming  in  its  whole  course  a  road  through  the  county,  known  as  the 
“ ridge  road”  The  Erie  canal,  for  nearly  the  whole  of  its  devious 
course  of  43  miles  through  the  county,  keeps  the  valley  of  Mud  creek 
and  the  Clyde.  The  soil  is  generally  highly  fertile.  The  greater  por¬ 
tion  of  the  county  on  the  west,  including  one-fourth  of  the  towns  of 
Galen.  Rose,  and  Huron,  was  in  the  grant  to  Massachusetts  and  in 
Phelps  and  Gorham’s  purchase,  passing  from  those  gentlemen  to  Rob¬ 
ert  Morris,  and  from  him  to  Sir  William  Pulteney,  from  whom  the 
present  possessors  derive  title.  The  remnant  in  the  east  pertained  to 
the  military  tract.  The  county  is  divided  into  15  towns  : 


Arcadia, 

Butler, 

Galen, 

Huron, 


Lyons, 

Macedon, 

Marion, 

Ontario, 


Palmyra, 

Rose, 

Savannah, 

Sodus, 


Walworth, 

Williamson, 

Wolcott. 


Lyons,  the  shire-village,  was  incorporated  in  1831.  It  is  situated  at 
the  junction  of  Mud  creek  with  the  Canandaigua  outlet,  (below  which 
the  stream  takes  the  name  of  Clyde  river,)  and  on  the  Erie  canal,  181 
miles  from  Albany,  34  from  Rochester,  15  N.  of  Geneva,  and  16  S.  of 
Sodus  Point.  The  village  contains  about  250  dwellings,  1  Presbyte¬ 
rian,  1  Lutheran,  1  Methodist,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Episcopal  church,  the 
county  buildings,  a  bank,  2  newspaper  printing  offices,  a  number  of 
mills,  &c.  The  accompanying  view  was  taken  at  the  bridge  over  the 
Erie  canal,  at  the  eastern  entrance  into  the  village,  and  shows  in  the 
distance  a  number  of  public  buildings.  The  village  was  originally  laid 


WAYNE  COUNTY 


355 


Eastern  entrance  into  Lyons, 

out  by  C.  Williamson,  agent  for  the  Pulteney  estate,  and  is  said  to  have 
derived  its  name  from  the  similarity  of  its  situation  to  the  city  of  that 
name  in  France.  The  first  settlement  was  commenced  in  June,  1798, 
by  emigrants  from  New  Jersey  and  Maryland. 


Eastern  view  in  Main-street,  Palmyra. 

The  village  of  Palmyra  is  situated  on  Mud  creek  and  the  Erie  ca¬ 
nal,  196  miles  distant  from  Albany  by  the  post  route,  11  from  Lyons, 
13  from  Canandaigua,  and  22  from  Rochester.  It  is  a  place  of  con¬ 
siderable  business,  containing  about  250  dwellings,  1  Presbyterian,  1 
Episcopal,  1  Methodist,  and  1  Baptist  church,  a  bank,  2  newspaper 
printing  offices,  a  number  of  mills,  &c.  The  accompanying  engraving 
shows  part  of  Main-street,  looking  westward. 

The  village  of  Clyde,  on  the  line  of  the  Erie  canal,  8  miles  E.  of 
Lyons,  is  a  place  of  considerable  business,  having  upwards  of  100 
dwellings,  4  churches,  and  an  academy. 


356 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 

Westchester  county  is  of  an  ancient  date.  It  was  represented 
in  the  first  legislative  assembly  in  the  colony,  which  met  at  New  York 
in  1691.  And  it  has  constituted  one  county  to  this  time,  having  been 
organized  as  such  by  the  general  acts  of  1788  and  1801.  This  coun¬ 
ty  comprises  a  very  important  section  of  the  state.  Washed  on  the 
west  by  the  Hudson,  and  on  the  south  by  the  East  river  and  Long 
Island  sound,  it  enjoys  very  superior  advantages  for  trade  and  com¬ 
merce.  The  county  generally  exhibits  a  beautiful  diversity  of  sur¬ 
face.  The  northwestern  corner  is  considerably  broken  by  the  SE. 
border  of  the  Highlands,  of  a  mountain  character,  and  a  range  of 
hills  of  moderate  height  extends  from  York  Island  towards  the  NE. 
extremity,  on  which  are  situated  the  heights  and  hills  much  known  in 
the  revolution.  Croton  River,  the  stream  which  supplies  the  Croton 
aqueduct  with  water,  rises  in  Dutchess  and  Putnam  counties  from 
several  beautiful  lakes.  It  flows  through  part  of  the  county  in  a  south¬ 
ern  direction,  and  empties  into  the  Hudson  about  two  miles  above  the  vil¬ 
lage  of  Sing  Sing :  length  about  45  miles.  Bronx  river,  named  after  Jo¬ 
seph  Bronx,  an  early  settler,  rises  in  Rye  Pond,  and  after  a  course  of  25 
miles  passes  into  the  Sound.  Based  upon  primitive  rock,  the  soil  is  natur¬ 
ally  sterile,  but  is  rendered  productive  by  careful  and  painful  cultivation. 
Of  wheat  it  produces  little,  and  the  inhabitants  import  a  large  portion  of 
their  bread-stuffs.  Summer  crops  are  good,  and  by  the  use  of  plaster, 
valuable  returns  in  grass  are  obtained.  The  chief  business  of  the  in¬ 
habitants  consists  in  supplying  New  York  city  with  garden  stuff’s, 
field  vegetables,  butter,  poultry,  &c. 

This  county  suffered  severely  during  the  revolution.  The  whole 
southern  part  was  marked  by  the  marches,  works  of  defence,  or 
skirmishes  and  battles  of  hostile  armies.  And,  indeed,  the  active  op¬ 
erations  of  the  war  in  1776,  were  principally  confined  to  this  region, 
and  in  the  autumn  to  this  county,  where  the  two  armies  were  in  full 
force,  constantly  on  the  alert,  and  under  the  eyes  of  their  respective 
commanders.  The  county  is  divided  into  22  towns,  all  of  which 
were  organized  under  the  act  of  March  7th,  1788,  excepting  New 
Castle  and  Ossinsin. 


Bedford, 
Cortlandt, 
Eastchester, 
Greensbjirg, 
Harrison, 


Westchester, 
White  Plains, 
Yonkers, 
Yorktown. 


Mamaroneck,  Ossinsin, 

Mount  Pleasant,  Pelham, 

New  Castle,  Poundridge, 

New  Rochelle,  Rye, 

North  Castle,  Scarsdale, 

Lewisborough,  North  Salem,  Somers, 

Peekskill  village  was  incorporated  in  1826.  It  is  situated  12  miles 
north  of  Sing  Sing,  and  immediately  south  of  the  southern  termina¬ 
tion  of  the  Highlands.  The  annexed  engraving  shows  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  village  as  seen  from  an  elevation  a  few  rods  northward 
from  the  road  to  Carmel.  The  old  Dutch  Reformed  and  the  Epis- 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY 


357 


East  view  of  Peekskill. 

copal  church  arc  discernible  on  the  right ;  the  Methodist  and  the 
Presbyterian  church,  having  a  small  tower,  are  on  the  extreme  left. 
The  elevated  spire  of  the  new  Dutch  Reformed  church  is  in  the  cen¬ 
tral  part  of  the  view.  Hudson  river,  with  the  towering  highlands,  is 
seen  in  the  distance.  The  village  represented  in  the  engraving  is 
situated  on  an  elevation  200  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river,  half  a 
mile  from  the  landing,  on  both  sides  of  a  deep  ravine,  in  which  flows 
Gregory’s  brook,  a  rapid  stream.  There  are  in  the  village  a  bank, 
2  printing-offices,  2  large  iron  foundries,  &c.  There  is  an  academy, 
a  large  edifice,  situated  on  a  commanding  eminence  at  the  south.  It 
was  erected  by  subscription,  at  an  expense  of  $7,000.  The  village, 
including  the  landing,  contains  upwards  of  200  dwellings,  and  2 
churches  for  Friends,  besides  those  mentioned  above.  There  is  a 
steamboat  ferry  at  this  place  to  Caldwell’s  landing,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Hudson,  two  miles  distant.  Verplanck’s  point  and  Conti¬ 
nental  village,  places  distinguished  in  the  revolutionary  war,  are  with¬ 
in  the  limits  of  this  town.  This  latter  place,  which  had  barracks  for 
2,000  men,  was  burnt  by  the  British  in  October,  1777 ;  the  following 
account  of  which  is  extracted  from  the  Connecticut  Journal  of  April 
2d,  1777. 

Fishkill,  March  27. — Our  post  at  Peck’s-kill,  since  the  removal  of  the  militia  of  the  eastern 
states,  has  been  in  a  manner  in  a  defenceless  situation,  there  being  only  part  of  2  regiments 
stationed  there  under  the  care  of  Gen.  McDougal  amounting  to  about  250  men.  The  enemy 
having  received  intelligence  of  this,  formed  an  expedition  thither  with  a  view  to  take  or  de¬ 
stroy  the  stores  belonging  to  the  continentals  that  were  deposited  there.  Accordingly  on  Sun¬ 
day  last  they  appeared  with  a  frigate,  four  transports,  and  several  other  small  vessels  in  the 
bay,  and  landed  about  1,000  men,  with  several  pieces  of  cannon.  General  McDougal  not 
thinking  it  prudent  to  hazard  a  battle  with  such  an  unequal  force,  and  not  having  seasonable 
advice  of  the  enemy’s  movement,  was  under  the  necessity  of  destroying  their  stores  in  order 
to  prevent  their  falling  into  their  hands,  and  retired  about  two  miles  into  the  pass  in  the  High¬ 
lands,  carrying  with  him  his  baggage  and  military  stores ;  his  advanced  guard  being  stationed 
at  Cortlandt’s  house  in  the  valley.  The  enemy  the  same  day  took  possession  of  the  village, 
and  remained  close  in  their  quarters  until  the  next  day  in  the  afternoon,  when  a  party  of  them, 
consisting  of  about  200  men,  possessed  themselves  of  a  height  a  little  south  of  Cortlandt’s. 
The  general  having  received  a  reinforcement  from  Col.  Gansevoort’s  regiment,  of  about  80 


358 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 


men,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Willet,  permitted  them  to  attempt  to  dispossess  the 
enemy  from  that  eminence.  Col.  Willet  having  accordingly  made  the  necessary  disposition, 
advanced  with  his  small  party  with  the  greatest  firmness  and  resolution,  and  made  the  attack. 
The  enemy  instantly  fled  with  the  greatest  precipitation,  leaving  three  men  dead  on  the 
field,  and  the  whole  body,  panic-struck,  betook  themselves  to  their  shipping,  embarking 
under  cover  of  the  night ;  and  by  the  last  accounts  they  had  sailed  down  the  river.  Be¬ 
fore  they  embarked,  they  gave  out  they  intended  to  stop  at  Tarrytown,  on  their  way 
down,  and  attempt  to  destroy  our  magazine  of  forage  at  Wright’s  mills.  Upon  their  evac¬ 
uating  the  place,  Gen.  McDougal  took  possession  of  his  former  quarters,  and  detached  a 
party  of  men  to  watch  their  motions.  The  enemy,  on  this  occasion,  have  been  exceed¬ 
ingly  disappointed,  as  they  have  not  been  able  to  carry  off  any  stores  left  behind  by  our 
men,  and  no  other  flock  than  about  40  sheep  and  8  or  10  head  of  cattle,  with  which  they 
were  supplied  by  our  good  friends  the  tories.  Never  did  troops  exhibit  more  firmness  and 
resolution  than  did  our  army  on  this  occasion.  Notwithstanding  the  disparity  of  numbers 
was  great,  and  the  measure  absolutely  necessary,  it  was  with  the  utmost  reluctance  they 
retired  to  the  pass.  As  usual,  these  heroes  of  Britain  have  burnt  some  houses,  plundered 
the  inhabitants  of  what  they  could  conveniently  take  with  them,  frightened  the  women 
and  children,  and  raised  the  spirits  of  their  tory  brethren  in  that  quarter,  but  which,  alas, 
as  is  always  the  case  when  unnaturally  elevated,  are  how  again  proportionably  de¬ 
pressed.” 

Peekskill  is  the  birthplace  of  John  Paulding,  the  American  farmer, 
who  intercepted  Andre,  the  British  spy,  at  Tarrytown,  some  fifteen 
miles  below  this  place.  His  monument  is  situated  about  two  miles  to 
the  north  of  the  village.  It  is  built  of  marble,  of  a  pyramidal  shape, 
about  fifteen  feet  in  height,  and  running  to  a  point.  It  is  enclosed  in 
an  iron  railing  about  twelve  feet  square.  The  main  inscription  is  on 
the  south  side,  and  runs  thus  : — 

“  Here  repose  the  mortal  remains  of  John  Paulding,  who  died  on  the  18th  day  of  Feb¬ 
ruary,  1818,  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age.  On  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  September,  1780, 
accompanied  by  two  young  farmers  of  the  county  of  Westchester,  (whose  names  will  one 
day  be  recorded  on  their  own  deserved  monuments,)  he  intercepted  the  British  spy,  Andre. 
Poor  himself,  he  disdained  to  acquire  wealth  by  sacrificing  his  country.  Rejecting  the  temp¬ 
tation  of  great  rewards,  he  conveyed  his  prisoner  to  the  American  carnp,  and  by  this  act 
of  noble  self-denial,  the  treason  of  Arnold  was  detected  ;  the  designs  of  the  enemy  baffled  ; 
West  Point  and  the  American  army  saved,  and  these  U.  S.,  now  by  the  grace  of  God 
free  and  independent,  rescued  from  imminent  peril.”  On  the  opposite  side  is  written — ■ 
“  The  corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York  erect  this  tomb  as  a  memorial  raised  to  public 
gratitude.”  On  the  east  side  is  a  beautiful  wreath  engraved  on  the  marble,  with  the 
word,  “  Fidelity.” 

Tarrytown  is  pleasantly  situated,  28  miles  N.  of  New  York,  on  an 
elevation  overlooking  the  Hudson,  opposite  the  widest  part  of  Tap- 
pan  bay.  The  village  contains  4  churches,  80  or  90  dwellings,  and 
about  1,000  inhabitants.  The  following  is  a  view  of  the  place,  situated 
about  one  fourth  of  a  mile  N.  of  the  village  where  Andre  was  taken 
prisoner,  in  Sept.,  1780,  by  three  militiamen.  The  road  at  that  time 
ran  a  little  to  the  west  of  its  present  location.  The  three  were  play¬ 
ing  cards  in  the  field  on  the  right  of  the  engraving,  which  was  then 
covered  with  trees  and  shrubbery,  when  their  attention  was  arrested 
by  the  clattering  of  a  horse’s  hoofs  over  a  wooden  bridge  thrown  across 
the  little  brook  seen  in  the  foreground.  They  left  their  cards,  and  ar¬ 
rested  Andre  in  the  vicinity  of  the  place  where  now  stands  a  small  pine 
tree,  near  which  a  human  figure  is  placed  in  the  engraving. 

The  annexed  account  of  the  taking  of  Andre,  is  from  a  manuscript 
in  the  possession  of  Isaac  H.  Tiffany,  Esq.,  of  Fultonville,  being  the 
notes  of  a  personal  conversation  which  he  had  with  David  Williams, 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 


359 


North  view  of  the  place  where  Andre  was  taken  prisoner. 


one  of  the  actors  in  the  scene  at  Broome,  Schoharie  county,  Feb. 
13,  1817. 

Williams,  Van  Wart,  and  Paulding,  (Williams  aged  between  22  and  23,  the  other  two 
being  younger,)  were  going  to  see  some  relations  20  miles  below.  The  three  were  seated 
beside  the  road  in  the  bushes,  amusing  themselves  at  cards,  when  their  attention  was  ar. 
rested  by  the  galloping  of  a  horse.  On  approaching  the  road,  they  saw  a  gentleman  riding 
towards  them,  seated  on  a  large  brown  horse,  which  was  afterward  observed  to  have  marked 
on  the  near  shoulder  the  initials  U.  S.  A.  The  rider  was  a  light,  trim-built  man,  about  5 
feet  7  inches  in  height,  with  a  bold  military  countenance  and  dark  eyes,  and  was  dressed 
in  a  round  hat,  blue  surtout,  crimson  coat,  with  pantaloons  and  vest  of  nankeen.  As  he 
neared  them,  the  three  cocked  their  muskets  and  aimed  at  the  rider,  who  immediately 
checked  his  horse,  and  the  following  conversation  ensued : 

Andre.  “  Gentlemen,  I  hope  you  are  of  our  party  !” 

Paulding.  “  What  party?” 

Andre.  “  The  lower  party.” 

Paulding.  “We  do.” 

Andre.  “  I  am  a  British  officer ;  I  have  been  up  in  the  country  on  particular  business,  and 
would  not  wish  to  be  detained  a  single  moment.” 

He  thereupon  pulled  out  a  gold  watch,  and  exhibited  it  as  an  evidence  that  he  was  a 
gentleman,  and  returned  it  again  to  his  fob.  Paulding  thereupon  remarked,  “  We  are  Ameri¬ 
cans ■.” 

Andre.  “  God  bless  my  soul !  a  man  must  do  any  thing  to  get  along — I  am  a  continental 
officer,  going  down  to  Dobbs  Ferry  to  get  information  from  below.” 

Andre  then  drew  out  and  presented  a  pass  from  General  Arnold,  in  which  was  the  as¬ 
sumed  name  of  John  Anderson.  Seizing  hold  upon  the  reins  of  the  horse,  they  ordered  him 
to  dismount.  Andre  exclaimed,  “  You  will  bring  yourself  into  trouble  !”  “  We  care  not 

for  that,”  was  the  reply.  They  took  him  down  ten  or  fifteen  rods  beside  a  run  of  water, 
and  Williams  proceeded  to  search  the  hat,  coat,  vest,  shirt,  and  pantaloons,  in  which  they 
found  $80  in  continental  money ;  and  at  last  ordered  him  to  take  off  his  boots.  At  this, 
he  changed  color.  Williams  drew  off  the  left  boot  first,  and  Paulding  seizing  it  exclaimed, 
“  My  God !  here  it  is !”  In  it  three  half  sheets  of  written  paper  were  found  enveloped  by 
a  half  sheet,  marked,  “  contents  West  Point.”  Paulding  again  exclaimed,  “  My  God  !  he’s 
a  spy  /”  On  pulling  off  the  other  boot,  a  similar  package  was  found. 

Andre  was  now  allowed  to  dress,  and  they  marched  him  across  the  road  into  the  field 
about  twenty  rods.  The  young  men  winked  to  each  other  to  make  further  discoveries,  and 
inquired  from  whom  he  got  the  papers  ?  “  Of  a  man  at  Pine’s  bridge,  a  stranger  to  me,” 
replied  Andre.  He  then  offered  them  for  his  liberty,  his  horse  and  equipage,  watch,  and 
100  guineas.  This  they  refused  to  take,  unless  he  informed  them  where  he  obtained  the 
manuscript.  He  refused  to  comply,  but  again  offered  his  horse,  equipage,  and  one  thousand 
guineas.  They  were  firm  in  their  denial,  and  Andre  increased  his  offer  to  ten  thousand 
guineas  and  as  many  drygoods  as  they  wished,  which  should  be  deposited  in  any  place 
desired, — that  they  might  keep  him  and  send  some  one  to  New  York  with  his  order,  so 


360 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 


that  they  could  obtain  them  unmolested.  To  this  they  replied,  “  that  it  did  not  signify  for 
him  to  make  any  offer,  for  he  should  not  go.”  They  then  proceeded  to  the  nearest  mili¬ 
tary  station,  which  was  at  North  Castle,  about  twelve  miles  distant.  On  the  way,  Andre 
gave  them  his  watch,  telling  them  that  “  it  was  a  prize.”  On  delivering  him  to  Colonel 
Jamieson,  the  commanding  officer,  that  gentleman  enjoined  the  strictest  secrecy,  at  the 
same  time  expressing  an  opinion  that  there  were  others  doubtless  concerned  in  the  plot. 
Major  Tallmadge,  who  had  commanded  a  guard,  received  Andre  at  Colonel  Jamieson’s 
quarters,  and  afterward,  with  about  twenty  men,  conducted  him  to  Colonel  Sheldon,  at 
Salem.  The  three  accompanied  Andre  part  of  the  way,  and  then  left.  During  the  night, 
Tallmadge  caused  Andre  to  be  tied  to  a  tree  at  Comyen  hill.  From  Salem  he  was  con¬ 
veyed  to  West  Point,  and  from  thence  to  Tappan. 

Williams,  Paulding,  and  Van  Wart,  stood  within  the  ring  when  Andre  was  hung. 
When  the  officer  informed  him  that  his  time  had  nearly  expired,  and  inquired  if  he  had 
any  thing  to  say,  he  answered,  “  Nothing,  but  for  them  to  witness  to  the  world  that  he 
died  like  a  brave  man.”  The  hangman,  who  was  painted  black,  offered  to  put  on  the 
noose — “  Take  off  your  black  hands  !”  said  Andre ;  then  putting  on  the  noose  himself, 
took  out  his  handkerchief,  tied  it  on,  drew  it  up,  bowed  with  a  smile  to  his  acquaintances, 
and  died. 

David  Williams,  now  (Feb.  13,  1817)  aged  61,  was  born  at  Tarrytown,  of  Dutch  ex¬ 
traction,  and  speaks  that  language.  Paulding  and  Van  Wart  were  also  Dutch  ;  neither 
of  the  three  spoke  English  well.  Congress  gave  each  a  farm  in  Westchester  county,  of 
the  value  of  .£500,  an  annuity  of  $200  through  life,  together  with  an  elegant  silver  medal, 
on  one  side  of  which  was  the  inscription,  “  Fidelity ,”  and  on  the  reverse,  the  motto 
“  Amqr  patrice  vincit,”  (the  love  of  country  conquers.) 


Three  miles  E.  of  Tarrytown,  is  the  small  village  of  Greensburgh, 
where  there  are  a  few  neat  dwellings,  and  a  Presbyterian  church,  in 
whose  cemetery  rest  the  remains  of  Isaac  Van  Wart,  one  of  the  cap- 
tors  of  Andre  ;  over  which  is  a  marble  monument,  consisting  of  a  base 
and  pyramid,  with  the  following  inscription : 

“  Here  repose  the  mortal  remains  of  Isaac  Van  Wart,  an  elder  of  the  Greenburgh 
church,  who  died  on  the  23d  of  May,  1828,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age.  Having  lived  the 
life,  he  died  the  death  of  the  Christian. — The  citizens  of  the  county  of  Westchester  erect¬ 
ed  this  tomb,  in  testimony  of  the  high  sense  they  entertained  for  the  virtuous  and  patriotic 
conduct  of  their  fellow-citizen,  and  as  a  memorial  sacred  to  public  gratitude. — Vincit 
Amor  Patriae. — Nearly  half  a  century  before  this  monument  was  built,  the  conscript  fa¬ 
thers  of  America  had,  in  the  senate  chamber,  voted  that  Isaac  Van  Wart  was  a  faithful 
patriot — one  in  whom  the  love  of  country  was  invincible,  and  this  tomb  bears  testimony 
that  the  record  is  true. — Fidelity.  On  the  23d  of  Sept.  1780,  Isaac  Van  Wart,  accompa¬ 
nied  by  John  Paulding  and  David  Williams,  all  farmers  of  the  county  of  Westchester,  in¬ 
tercepted  Major  Andre  on  his  return  from  the  American  lines  in  the  character  of  a  spy, 
and  notwithstanding  the  large  bribes  offered  them  for  his  release,  nobly  disdained  to  sacri¬ 
fice  their  country  for  gold,  secured  and  carried  him  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  dis¬ 
trict,  whereby  the  dangerous  and  traitorous  conspiracy  of  Arnold  was  brought  to  light,  the 
insidious  designs  of  the  enemy  baffled,  the  American  army  saved,  and  our  beloved  coun¬ 
try  freed,”  &.c. 

The  village  of  Sing  Sing,  34  miles  from  New  York,  was  incorporated 
in  1813.  It  consists  of  upwards  of  200  dwellings,  4  churches,  an 
academy,  and  a  female  seminary.  The  greater  part  of  the  village  is 
situated  on  high  and  uneven  ground.  The  Mount  Pleasant  State 
Prison  is  situated  about  half  a  mile  S.  of  the  village,  and  usually  con 
tains  from  800  to  900  convicts.  Large  quantities  of  marble  are  quar¬ 
ried  in  the  vicinity  by  the  convicts  for  the  New  York  and  other  mar¬ 
kets.  The  noted  locality  of  “  Sleepy  Hollow,”  rendered  so  famous 
by  the  entertaining  legend  of  Washington  Irving,  adjoins  the  north  part 
of  Tarry  to  wa. 


WESTCHESTER  COUNT 


361 


Southeast  view  of  White  Plains  village ,  ( central  part.) 


White  Plains  has  a  hilly,  but  mostly  an  arable  soil,  well  adapted 
for  grazing.  Pop.  1,087.  The  half-shire  village  of  White  Plains  is 
situated  on  the  old  post  road  to  Boston,  27  miles  NE.  from  New  York, 
125  from  Albany,  and  14  miles  SW.  from  Bedford.  It  contains  2  Meth¬ 
odist,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Episcopal,  and  1  Baptist  church,  the  county 
buildings,  an  academy,  70  or  80  dwellings,  and  about  550  inhab¬ 
itants.  The  above  view  shows  the  appearance  of  the  central  part 
of  the  village :  the  courthouse,  an  ancient  building,  is  seen  on  the 
left,  the  spire  of  the  academy  on  the  extreme  right. 

The  following  account  of  the  military  operations  in  this  town  and 
its  vicinity  in  Oct.  1776,  and  the  events  which  followed,  is  from 
Botta’s  American  Revolution. 

“  The  English  general  remained  several  days  at  Frogs  Neck,  as  well  to  repair  the  bridges 
which  the  enemy  had  broken,  as  to  wait  for  a  considerable  reinforcement  which  he  had 
called  from  Staten  Island.  The  road  from  Frogs  Neck  to  Kingsbridge  is  excessively  rough 
with  continual  masses  of  small  stones,  and  the  Americans  had  also  obstructed  it  in  many 
places.  Washington,  who  had  assembled  all  his  army  at  Kingsbridge,  sent  forward  his 
light  infantry  to  scour  the  country,  and  to  harass  the  enemy  in  his  march. 

“  Gen.  Howe,  having  received  his  reinforcements,  put  himself  in  motion  with  all  his 
troops ;  he  crossed  Pelham  Manor,  and  went  to  encamp  at  New  Rochelle,  where  he  was 
joined  by  the  second  division  of  Hessians,  and  of  the  troops  of  Waldeck  under  Gen.  Knyp. 
hausen,  and  by  a  regiment  of  cavalry  lately  arrived  at  New  York  from  Ireland.  As  the 
principal  project  of  the  expedition  was  to  intercept  the  communication  of  Washington  with 
the  eastern  provinces,  and  then,  if  he  declined  to  venture  an  engagement,  to  shut  him  up 
on  the  island  of  New  York,  consequently  it  was  necessary  to  occupy  the  two  roads  leading 
into  Connecticut ;  the  one  upon  the  coast  of  the  sound,  and  the  other  more  inland.  The 
first  was  already  in  the  power  of  the  English ;  but  in  attempting  to  occupy  the  second,  it 
was  requisite  to  traverse  the  difficult  country  of  which  we  have  already  made  mention,  in 
order  to  secure  the  post  of  the  highlands,  known  by  the  name  of  White  Plains,  upon  the 
rear  of  Kingsbridge. 

“  Gen.  Howe  determined  to  take  this  route ;  he  marched,  however,  slowly  and  with 
extreme  caution,  after  leaving  at  New  Rochelle  the  German  corps,  lately  arrived,  to  secure 
the  lower  road,  and  the  communication  with  those  places  whence  stores  and  necessaries 
were  to  arrive. 

“  Washington  examined,  with  attention,  the  danger  of  his  position.  He  penetrated  the 
designs  of  the  enemy,  and  consequently  decided  to  abandon,  with  the  main  body  of  his 
army,  the  encampment  of  Kingsbridge.  Extending,  therefore,  his  left  wing,  he  took  post 
with  it  in  the  White  Plains,  while  the  right  occupied  the  heights  of  Valentine’s  Hill,  near 

46 


362 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTV. 


Kingsbridge ;  the  centre  exactly  filled  the  space  comprehended  between  these  two  points. 
Here  he  intrenched  himself  with  the  greatest  care.  His  army  thus  formed  a  well  secured 
line,  parallel  to  the  river  Bronx,  which  lay  on  its  front,  and  separated  it  from  the  English, 
who  marched  up  along  the  left  bank  of  this  stream. 

“  Washington  had  behind  him  the  great  river  Hudson,  into  which  the  English  frigates 
had  not  yet  been  able  to  penetrate  so  far  as  to  intercept  the  supplies  of  provisions  which  he 
received  from  the  upper  parts.  With  his  left  wing  he  occupied  the  upper  road  of  Connec¬ 
ticut,  by  which  he  was  also  abundantly  supplied  with  provisions  and  munitions.  He  had 
left  sufficient  garrisons  at  Kingsbridge,  at  Harlem,  and  in  Fort  Washington;  in  this  last 
place,  however,  against  his  own  opinion.  Meanwhile,  he  detached  numerous  parties,  over 
the  Bronx,  in  order  to  retard  the  motions  of  the  enemy.  Hence  frequent  skirmishes  ensued, 
and  though  the  royalists  had  generally  the  advantage  in  these  rencounters,  they  still  served 
to  dissipate  the  terror  of  the  Americans,  who  every  day  showed  themselves  more  bold  in 
defying  the  enemy. 

“  Upon  the  approach  of  the  English  to  the  White  Plains,  Washington,  all  at  once,  called 
in  his  detachments,  and  abandoning  the  positions  he  had  occupied  along  the  Bronx,  assem¬ 
bled  all  his  troops  in  a  strong  camp  upon  the  heights,  near  these  plains,  in  front  of  the  enemy. 
His  right  flank  was  protected  by  the  Bronx,  which,  by  its  windings,  also  covered  the  front 
of  the  right  wing.  The  main  body  was  nearly  parallel  to  the  river,  and  the  left  wing  being 
placed  at  a  right  angle  upon  the  centre,  and  consequently  parallel  to  the  right,  extended 
towards  the  north  upon  the  hills,  as  much  as  was  necessary  to  guard  the  defiles  leading  to 
the  upper  mountainous  regions,  into  which  the  army,  if  expedient,  might  retire.  But  the 
right  wing,  being  posted  in  more  level  and  less  difficult  ground,  found  itself  more  exposed ; 
wherefore  Gen.  McDougall  was  ordered  to  occupy,  with  a  strong  detachment,  a  mountain 
about  a  mile  distant  from  the  camp  ;  he  intrenched  himself  there  as  well  as  the  time  would 
admit  of. 

“  Such  was  the  position  of  the  American  army  when  the  English  arrived  within  7  or  8 
miles  of  White  Plains,  and  prepared  themselves  to  attack  without  loss  of  time.  On  the 
morning  of  the  28th  of  Oct.  they  advanced  in  2  columns,  the  right  commanded  by  Gen. 
Clinton,  and  the  left  by  Gen.  Heister.  At  noon,  all  the  outposts  being  driven  back  by  the 
English  and  Hessian  light  infantry,  the  British  army  appeared  before  the  American  camp. 
Immediately  there  ensued  a  cannonade,  but  to  very  little  effect.  The  English  drew  up  in 
order  of  battle  ;  their  right  occupied  the  road  which  leads  to  Marrineck,  about  a  mile  distant 
from  the  centre  of  the  enemy ;  while  the  left,  equally  distant  from  his  right,  bordered  the 
Bronx.  The  English  general  having  observed  the  importance  of  the  position  taken  by  Gen. 
McDougall,  and  being  persuaded  that  the  right  of  the  enemy,  which  was  his  only  assailable 
point,  could  not  be  forced  so  long  as  it  should  be  protected  by  a  post  of  such  strength,  re¬ 
solved  to  wrest  it  from  the  Americans.  He  ordered  a  Hessian  regiment,  commanded  by 
Col.  Ralle,  to  ford  the  Bronx,  and  by  a  circuitous  movement  to  fall  upon  the  flank  of  Gen 
McDougall,  while  Gen.  Leslie  should  attack  him  in  front  with  a  brigade  of  English  and 
Hessians.  Col.  Ralle  having  arrived  at  the  point  indicated,  Leslie,  who  had  also  crossed 
the  Bronx,  furiously  assaulted  the  intrenchments  of  McDougall.  The  militia  soon  fled,  but 
the  regular  troops  made  a  valiant  resistance.  A  regiment  of  Maryland,  conducted  by  Col. 
Smallwood,  and  a  regiment  of  New  York,  under  Col.  Ratzemar,  ventured  even  to  come 
out  of  the  lines  and  to  charge  the  enemy  at  the  very  foot  of  the  mountain,  but  they  were 
overpowered  by  numbers  and  forced  to  retire.  Then  the  English  and  Hessians  ascended 
the  heights  with  singular  intrepidity,  and  took  possession  of  them  after  a  vigorous  struggle. 
The  Americans,  however,  continued  for  some  time  to  fire  from  behind  the  walls  of  enclo¬ 
sures,  and  thus  retarded  the  progress  of  the  assailants.  But  Gen.  Putnam,  who  had  been 
sent  to  their  succor,  could  not  arrive  in  season.  The  loss  of  men  in  this  action  was  great 
on  the  one  part  as  well  as  on  the  other. 

“  Washington,  calmly  expecting  that  the  enemy  would  come  to  attack  him  next,  had 
already  sent  into  his  rear  the  sick  and  the  baggage  ;  but  as  it  grew  towards  the  close  of  day, 
the  English  general  determined  to  defer  the  assault  till  the  next  morning.  He  caused  his 
troops  to  encamp  within  cannon-shot  of  the  American  lines.  Washington  took  advantage 
of  the  night  to  strengthen  them  with  additional  works,  and  to  occupy  a  stronger  position  in 
the  rear  with  his  left  wing,  which,  by  the  loss  of  the  mountain,  had  become  more  exposed. 
When  the  light  appeared,  Gen.  Howe  reconnoitred  the  intrenchments  of  the  enemy,  and 
found  them  sufficiently  formidable  to  determine  him  to  wait  the  arrival  of  some  battalions 
that  had  been  left  at  New  York,  under  the  command  of  Lord  Percy,  and  of  several  compa¬ 
nies  from  Marrineck.  These  reinforcements  being  received  on  the  evening  of  the  30th,  he 
appointed  the  following  morning  for  the  assault,  but  the  excessive  rain  which  fell  during  the 
night  and  also  in  the  morning,  compelled  him  to  defer  it.  The  American  general,  in  the 
mean  time,  examined  his  position  with  his  accustomed  prudence ;  he  was  decided  not  to 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 


363 


risk  a  pitched  battle  without  the  strongest  hope  of  success.  He  perceived  that  the  English 
had  already  erected  4  or  5  batteries,  and  that  by  turning  his  right  flank  they  might  get  pos¬ 
session  of  the  heights  situated  upon  his  rear.  He  concluded,  therefore,  to  break  up  his 
camp  in  the  night  of  the  1st  of  November.  He  removed  into  a  country  still  more  moun¬ 
tainous  in  the  vicinity  of  North  Castle  ;  having  previously  set  fire  to  the  houses  in  White 
Plains  and  the  neighborhood,  and  to  the  forage  that  was  found  in  the  camp.  He  immedi¬ 
ately  detached  a  strong  corps  to  occupy  the  bridge  over  the  Croton  river,  which  leads  to  the 
upper  parts  of  the  Hudson.  On  the  following  morning  the  English  took  possession  of  the 
American  camp. 

“  Gen.  Howe,  perceiving  that  his  enemy  declined  an  engagement,  and  that  from  the 
situation  of  the  country,  and  his  knowledge  of  every  advantageous  position,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  compel  him  to  fight  but  upon  the  most  unequal  and  hazardous  terms,  took  the 
determination  to  discontinue  the  pursuit,  and  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  reduction  of  the 
forts  and  fastnesses  still  occupied  by  the  Americans  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York. 
His  views  were  particularly  directed  upon  Fort  Washington,  which  was  its  principal  bul¬ 
wark.  But,  though  the  ground  where  this  fortress  had  been  erected  was  very  rough  and 
difficult,  its  fortifications  were  not  sufficiently  strong  to  resist  heavy  artillery.  It  was  inca¬ 
pable,  from  its  little  extent,  of  containing  more  than  a  thousand  defenders ;  the  outworks 
that  surrounded  it,  especially  to  the  south,  towards  New  York,  might  lodge,  it  is  true,  a 
much  stronger  garrison. 

“  The  commander-in-chief,  as  if  he  had  foreseen  the  event,  had  written  to  Gen.  Greene, 
who  commanded  in  this  part,  enjoining  him  to  reflect  maturely  upon  his  position/ and  in 
case  he  should  find  that  Fort  Washington  was  not  in  a  situation  to  sustain  an  assault,  to 
cause  it  to  be  forthwith  evacuated ;  and  to  transport  the  garrison  to  the  right  bank  of  the 
Hudson.  But  this  general,  either  believing  that  the  strength  of  the  place  and  the  valor  of 
the  troops  would  assure  him  a  long  defence,  or  from  the  apprehension  that  his  retreat  would 
increase  the  already  too  general  discouragement  of  the  Americans,  took  the  resolution  to 
hold  out  to  the  last.  He  was  herein  the  more  easily  determined,  as  he  believed  that  the 
garrison  would  always  be  able  to  retreat  into  Fort  Lee,  situated  upon  the  other  bank  of  the 
river.  But  Washington  judged  less  favorably  of  the  future  ;  he  was  persuaded  that  the 
English  would  not  remain  satisfied  with  the  reduction  of  the  first  fort ;  but  that  crossing  the 
river,  and  making  themselves  masters  of  the  second,  which  was  not  tenable,  they  would 
spread  themselves  in  the  province  of  New  Jersey.  He  left  therefore  Gen.  Lee,  with  the 
militia  of  the  eastern  provinces,  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Hudson,  and  having  secured  the 
strong  positions  towards  the  Croton  river,  and  especially  that  of  Peeks  Kill,  near  the  Hud¬ 
son  itself,  he  crossed  that  river  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  and  went  to  rejoin  Gen. 
Greene  in  his  camp  under  Fort  Lee.  Gen.  Lee  himself  had  orders  to  come  with  all  speed 
and  join  him,  in  case  the  enemy,  after  having  taken  the  fort,  should  show  himself  upon  the 
right  bank  of  the  Hudson.  He  afterward  wrote  to  the  governor  of  New  Jersey,  requesting 
him  to  remove  the  magazines  of  provisions  into  the  most  remote  parts,  and  to  call  out  all 
the  militia.  All  these  dispositions  being  made  to  his  wish,  Washington  watched  with  an 
attentive  eye  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

“  Meanwhile,  Gen.  Howe  had  ordered  Gen.  Knyphausen  to  march  from  New  Rochelle, 
and  to  occupy  Kingsbridge.  This  he  executed  without  obstacles,  the  Americans,  who 
guarded  this  position,  having  fallen  back  upon  Fort  Washington.  The  corps  of  Gen.  Knyp¬ 
hausen  consequently  penetrated  into  the  island  of  New  York,  and  proceeded  to  invest  the 
fort,  on  the  part  of  the  north. 

“  A  short  time  after,  the  English  general  himself  abandoned  the  White  Plains,  and  de¬ 
scending  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  conducted  the  rest  of  the  army  to  Kingsbridge. 
He  pitched  his  camp  upon  the  heights  of  Fordham,  his  right  wing  being  covered  by  the 
Hudson,  and  his  left  by  the  Bronx. 

“  The  royalists  then  prepared  to  attack  Fort  Washington;  its  interior  and  appurtenances 
were  defended  by  full  3,000  men,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Magaw,  a  brave  and  experi¬ 
enced  officer.  He  was  summoned  in  vain  to  surrender.  The  besiegers  proceeded  to  the 
assault  in  four  divisions,  the  first  from  the  north,  commanded  by  Gen.  Knyphausen,  and 
consisting  of  Hessians  and  the  troops  of  Waldeck;  the  second  from  the  east,  composed  of 
English  light  infantry  and  two  battalions  of  guards,  conducted  by  Gen.  Matthews.  This 
corps  was  to  attack  the  intrenchments  which  extended  from  Fort  Washington  almost  to  the 
East  river ;  the  third,  commanded  by  Col.  Sterling,  was  destined  to  pass  this  river  lower 
down  than  the  second,  in  order  to  assail  the  fort  more  to  the  south ;  but  this  was  only  a 
feint.  The  fourth,  which  obeyed  the  orders  of  Lord  Percy,  a  very  strong  corps,  was  direct¬ 
ed  to  aim  its  assault  against  the  ,o,c.  -n  flank  of  the  fortress.  These  different  divisions 
were  provided  with  a  num'  ^us  and  exctfient  artillery.  The  Hessians,  under  Gen.  Knyp 
hausen,  were  _  .  airough  a  very  thic!  forest,  where  Col.  Rawlings  was  already  posted 


364 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY. 


with  his  regiment  of  riflemen.  An  extremely  warm  affair  was  engaged,  in  which  the 
Germans  sustained  a  severe  loss.  The  Americans,  ambushed  behind  the  trees  and  rocks, 
fired  in  security  ;  but  at  last,  the  Hessians  redoubling  their  efforts,  gained  a  very  steep  as¬ 
cent,  whence  they  came  down  upon  the  enemy  with  an  irresistible  impetuosity  ;  the  di¬ 
visions  which  followed  them  were  thus  enabled  to  land  without  molestation.  Col.  Raw¬ 
lings  retreated  under  the  cannon  of  the  fort.  Lord  Percy,  on  his  part,  had  carried  an 
advanced  work,  which  facilitated  the  debarkation  of  the  party  under  Col.  Stirling,  who, 
the  moment  he  had  landed,  forced  his  way  up  a  difficult  height,  which  was  very  resolutely 
defended  ;  he  gained  the  summit,  where  he  took  a  considerable  number  of  prisoners,  not¬ 
withstanding  their  gallant  resistance.  Col.  Cadwallader,  who  was  charged  with  the  defence 
of  this  part,  retired  also  into  the  fort. 

“  Col.  Ralle,  who  led  the  right  column  of  Gen.  Knyphausen’s  attack,  surmounted  all 
obstacles  with  admirable  valor,  and  lodged  his  column  within  100  yards  of  the  fort.  Soon 
after,  Gen.  Knyphausen  joined  him  with  the  left  column  ;  having  at  length  extricated 
himself  from  the  difficulties  encountered  in  the  forest.  The  garrison  having  thus  lost, 
though  not  without  glory,  all  their  advanced  works,  found  themselves  closely  invested  with¬ 
in  the  body  of  the  fortress.  The  besiegers  then  summoned  Col.  Magaw  to  surrender.  He 
had  already  consumed  nearly  all  his  ammunition.  The  very  multitude  of  defenders  press¬ 
ed  into  so  narrow  a  space,  was  prejudicial  to  defence,  and  every  thing  demonstrated  that  he 
could  not  sustain  an  assault.  Accordingly  he  decided  to  capitulate.  The  garrison,  amount¬ 
ing  to  2,600  men,  inclusive  of  the  country  militia,  surrendered  prisoners  of  war.  The 
Americans  had  few  killed  ;  the  royalists  lost  about  800,  the  greater  part  Germans.  The 
reduction  of  Fort  Washington  thus  gave  the  royal  army  entire  possession  of  the  island  of 
New  York.” 

Bedford,  the  half-shire  village,  contains  a  courthouse,  2  churches, 
and  about  40  dwellings,  situated  about  44  miles  NE.  of  New  York. 
John  Jay,  the  patriot  of  the  revolution,  during  the  latter  period  of  his 
life  resided  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  of  Bedford.  The  annexed 
sketch  of  his  life  is  from  Blake’s  Biographical  Dictionary : 

“  John  Jay,  LL.D.,  first  chief-justice  of  the  United  States  under  the  constitution  of 
1789,  graduated  at  Kings,  (now  Columbia  college,)  1764,  and  in  1768  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  was  appointed  to  the  first  American  congress  in  1774.  Being  on  the  committee 
with  Lee  and  Livingston  to  draft  an  address  to  the  people  of  Great  Britain,  he  was  the 
writer  of  that  eloquent  production.  In  the  congress  of  1775,  he  was  on  various  important 
committees,  performing  more  service  perhaps  than  any  other  member  except  Franklin  and 
John  Adams.  In  May,  1776,  he  was  recalled  to  assist  in  forming  the  government  of  New 
York,  and  in  consequence  his  name  is  not  attached  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ; 
but  July  9th,  he  reported  resolutions  in  the  provincial  convention  in  favor  of  the  declaration. 
After  the  fall  of  New  York  and  the  removal  of  the  provincial  assembly  to  Poughkeepsie, 
Mr.  Jay  retained  his  resolute  patriotism.  The  very  eloquent  address  of  the  convention  to 
the  people  of  New  York,  dated  Fishkill,  Dec.  23, 1776,  and  signed  by  A.  Ten  Broeck,  as 
president,  was  written  by  him.  March  12,  1777,  he  reported  to  the  convention  of  New 
York  the  draft  of  a  form  of  government,  which  was  adopted,  and  many  of  the  provisions 
of  which  were  introduced  into  the  constitution  of  other  states.  From  May  3,  1777,  to 
August  18,  1779,  he  was  chief-justice  of  the  state,  but  resigned  that  office  inconsequence 
of  his  duties  as  president  of  congress.  The  glowing  address  of  that  body  to  their  constit¬ 
uents,  dated  September  8,  1779,  was  prepared  by  him.  On  the  29th  of  September,  he  was 
appointed  minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  court  of  Spain.  He  was  one  of  the  commission¬ 
ers  to  negotiate  peace  with  Great  Britain,  and  signed  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace  at  Paris, 
September  3, 1783.  He  returned  to  America  in  1784.  Congress  had  previously  appointed 
him  secretary  of  state  for  foreign  affairs.  In  the  difficult  circumstances  of  the  country,  the 
secretary  was  in  effect  the  head  of  the  government.  Mr.  Jay’s  services  were  of  great  im¬ 
portance.  He  drew  up,  October  13,  1776,  an  elaborate  report  on  the  relations  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain.  Though  not  a  member  of  the  conventon  which  formed 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  he  was  present  at  Annapolis,  and  aided  by  his  advice. 
He  also  assisted  Madison  and  Hamilton  in  writing  the  Federalist.  In  the  convention  of 
New  York  he  contributed  to  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.  He  was  appointed  chief- 
justice  by  Washington,  September  26,  1789.  In  1794,  he  was  appointed  minister  pleni¬ 
potentiary  to  Great  Britain,  and  succeeded  in  negotiating  the  treaty  which  still  goes  by 
his  name.  He  was  governor  of  the  state  of  New  York  from  1795  to  1801.  The  re¬ 
mainder  of  his  life  he  passed  in  retirement.  He  died  in  1829,  aged  84.” 


WYOMING  COUNTY. 


365 


Port  Chester,  on  the  west  side  of  Byram  river,  which  forms  the 
boundary  between  New  York  and  Connecticut,  is  a  village  containing 
3  churches  and  about  100  dwellings,  and  has  a  convenient  landing  for 
sloops  and  steamboats.  This  flourishing  village,  formerly  called  Saw- 
pits,  is  in  the  township  of  Rye,  in  which  is  situated  the  old  Jay  man¬ 
sion..  The  village  of  New  Rochelle,  about  20  miles  from  New  York, 
is  delightfully  situated  in  sight  of  the  sound,  has  about  100  dwellings, 
a  number  of  fine  hotels  and  schools,  and  is  a  place  of  resort  during  the 
warm  season.  Yonkers,  on  the  Hudson,  17  miles  from  New  York, 
has  2  churches,  a  female  seminary,  and  about  60  dwellings.  The 
manor  of  Morrisiana,  originally  containing  about  3,000  acres,  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  distinguished  family  of  Morris,  is  in  the  township  of  West¬ 
chester,  opposite  Hurl  Gate. 

“  Gouverneur  Morris  was  born  at  Morrisiana,  Jan.  31,  1752.  He  graduated  at  Kings 
college,  New  York,  in  1768.  He  was  bred  to  the  law,  in  which  he  obtained  a  great  repu¬ 
tation.  In  1775,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  provincial  congress  in  New  York.  In  1776, 
(Dec.,)  he  acted  as  one  of  the  committee  for  drafting  a  constitution  for  the  state  of  New 
York,  which  was  reported  in  March,  1777,  and  adopted  in  April  of  that  year,  after  re¬ 
peated  and  very  able  debates.  He  was  employed  in  the  public  service  in  various  capaci¬ 
ties,  during  the  revolutionary  contest,  in  all  of  which  he  displayed  great  zeal  and  ability. 
After  the  revolution,  he  retired  from  public  life,  and  passed  a  number  of  years  in  private 
pursuits,  excepting  being  a  very  active  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the  con¬ 
stitution  of  the  United  States.  In  1792,  he  was  appointed  minister  to  France,  and  re¬ 
mained  there  in  that  capacity  until  Oct.  1794.  He  returned  to  America  in  1798,  and  in 
1800  was  chosen  a  senator  from  New  York.  In  the  summer  of  1810,  he  examined  the 
route  for  the  Erie  canal,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  originating  and  promoting  that 
noble  work.  He  died  at  Morrisiana,  Nov.  5,  1816.  He  passed  the  latter  years  of  his  life 
at  Morrisiana,  exercising  an  elegant  and  munificent  hospitality,  reviewing  the  studies  of 
his  early  days,  and  carrying  on  a  very  interesting  correspondence  with  statesmen  and 
literati  in  Europe  and  America.  The  activity  of  his  mind,  the  richness  of  his  fancy,  and 
the  copiousness  of  his  eloquent  conversation,  were  the  admiration  of  all  his  acquaintance ; 
and  he  was  universally  admitted  to  be  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  prominent  men  of 
our  country.” 


WYOMING  COUNTY. 

Wyoming  county  was  formed  from  the  southern  portion  of  Gene¬ 
see  county  in  1841  ;  length  E.  and  W.  25,  breadth  N.  and  S.  18 
miles  ;  centrally  distant  from  New  York  325,  and  from  Albany  264 
miles.  The  surface  of  the  county  is  but  gently  Undulating,  and  the 
general  character  of  the  soil  is  a  most  sandy  or  gravelly  loam,  well 
adapted  to  the  culture  of  grain  and  grass.  The  Genesee  river  touches 
the  southeastern  corner  in  the  town  of  Castile.  Allen’s  creek,  so 
named  from  the  infamous  Indian  Allen,  who  committed  many  mur¬ 
ders  on  the  frontier  inhabitants  in  this  region,  rises  in  this  county,  and 
flowing  northeasterly  through  a  portion  of  the  county  of  Genesee, 
empties  into  the  Genesee  river  in  the  town  of  Wheatland,  Monroe 
county.  The  Holland  Land  Company,  to  whom  this  country  originally 
belonged,  still  own  some  small  tracts.  It  is  divided  into  13  towns  : 


366 


WYOMING  COUNTY. 


Attica, 

Bennington, 

Castile, 

China, 


Covington, 

Gainesville, 

Java, 

Middlebury, 


Orangeville,  Wethersfield. 
Perry, 

Sheldon, 

Warsaw, 


The  annexed  engraving  is  a  view  in  the  central  portion  of  Perry 
village,  incorporated  in  1830,  and  situated  about  7  miles  E.  of  War¬ 
saw.  It  is  a  place  of  considerable  mercantile  and  manufacturing  busi- 


South  view  in  Perry  village. 


ness,  and  contains  an  academy,  4  churches,  and  about  150  buildings. 
It  is  situated  on  the  outlet  of  Silver  lake,  which  is  a  beautiful  sheet 
of  water  3  miles  in  length,  and  well  stocked  with  fish.  The  outlet 
furnishes  much  hydraulic  power  for  the  mills  and  factories  in  this  vi¬ 
cinity.  Perry  Centre  is  much  smaller,  though  incorporated.  It  is 
situated  about  2  miles  to  the  north.  Attica,  incorporated  in  1837,  is  8 
miles  from  Warsaw,  has  about  100  dwellings,  2  churches,  a  bank,  and 
a  female  seminary.  Wyoming,  14  miles  SE.  of  Batavia,  contains  3 
churches,  about  70  dwellings,  and  an  academy. 

The  village  of  Warsaw  is  situated  22  miles  S.  from  Batavia,  at  the 
head  of  “  Allen’s  Creek  Valley,”  and  on  Allen’s  creek,  nearly  equi¬ 
distant  from  Rochester,  Canandaigua,  Buffalo,  and  Olean.  By  the 
act  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  legislature,  the  courthouse, 
clerk’s  office,  and  jail  of  Wyoming  county  were  located  at  this  place, 
July  10,  1841.  There  are  here  1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist,  1  Method¬ 
ist,  and  1  Congregational  church,  100  dwellings,  1  printing  office,  1 
tannery,  6  mercantile  stores,  26  mechanical  shops,  2  iron  foundries,  2 
carding  works,  1  woollen  factory,  1  grist-mill,  and  about  800  inhabit¬ 
ants.  The  town  was  settled  in  1801,  principally  by  emigrants  from 
New  England  ;  and  its  present  inhabitants  are  noted  for  their  morality 
and  fondness  for  literature.  The  oldest  church  erected  in  the  state 
west  of  the  Genesee  river,  is  yet  standing  in  the  centre  of  the  village 
of  Warsaw. 


YATES  COUNTY. 


367 


YATES  COUNTY. 


Yates  county  was  taken  from  Ontario  in  1823  ;  centrally  distant 
from  New  York  via  Albany  330,  and  from  Albany  185  miles ;  greatest 
length  E.  and  W.  24,  greatest  breadth  N.  and  S.  20  miles.  The  sur¬ 
face  of  this  county  is  agreeably  diversified ;  the  northern  part  is  gently 
undulating,  and  the  southern  hilly.  The  soil  is  in  many  places  com¬ 
posed  of  a  warm  rich  mould,  yielding  abundant  crops,  though  as  a 
whole  it  is  more  of  a  grazing  than  a  grain  country.  The  climate  is 
temperate,  and  for  the  cultivation  of  fruit  is  not  exceeded  by  any  por¬ 
tion  of  the  state.  It  lies  wholly  in  the  tract  c?ded  to  Massachusetts, 
and  in  that  portion  of  it  which  passed  through  Messrs;  Gorham,  Phelps, 
and  Robert  Morris  to  Sir  William  Pulteney.  It  is  divided  into  eight 
towns  : 


Northeastern  view  of  Penn  Yan. 

The  thriving  incorporated  village  of  Penn  Yan,  the  county  seat, 
which  is  principally  built  on  a  street  about  a  mile  in  length,  is  situated 
at  the  northern  termination  of  the  eastern  arm  of  the  Crooked  Lake.  It 
was  founded  by  Mr.  Abraham  Waggener,  and  derives  its  name  from 
the  circumstance  that  its  early  settlers  were  Pennsylvanians  and  Yan¬ 
kees,  in  nearly  equal  numbers.  The  annexed  view  was  taken  from  an 
eminence  about  a  third  of  a  mile  east  of  the  village.  The  first  building 
with  a  steeple  on  the  right  is  the  Presbyterian  church,  the  one  next  on 
the  left  with  a  cupola,  the  courthouse,  and  the  third  and  fourth,  the  Bap¬ 
tist  and  Methodist  churches.  Crooked  or  Keuka  Lake  is  partially 
seen  in  the  distance.  The  other  public  buildings  in  the  village  are  an 


368 


YATES  COUNTY. 


Episcopal  church,  an  academy,  a  prison,  a  bank,  and  the  county  clerk’s 
office.  The  place  is  one  of  much  business,  and  has  many  mercantile 
stores,  and  about  300  dwellings. 

Dundee  is  a  thriving  village  14  miles  S.  of  Penn  Yan ;  contains 
4  churches,  about  90  dwellings,  a  number  of  mills  and  factories. 
Rushville  contains  about  80  dwellings,  2  churches,  and  a  number  of 
mills. 

At  Bluff  Point,  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem,  in  this  county,  at  what  is 
generally  called  the  Friends  Settlement,  is  the  “  Jemima  Wilkinson 
House,”  which  is  still  occupied  by  a  few  persons,  the  sole  remnant  of 
the  followers  of  this  singular  personage,  who  died  here  in  1819. 

“  Jemima  Wilkinson,  or  the  ‘  Universal  Friend,’  was  born  in  Cumberland,  Rhode  Island, 
about  the  year  1753.  She  was  educated  among  the  Friends.  Recovering  from  an  ap¬ 
parent  suspension  of  life  which  she  experienced  when  about  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
during  a  fit  of  sickness,  she  gave  out  that  she  had  been  raised  from  the  dead,  and  claimed 
to  be  invested  with  divine  attributes  and  authority  to  instruct  mankind  in  religion.  It  is 
also  said,  she  pretended  to  foretell  future  events,  to  discern  the  secrets  of  the  heart,  and  to 
have  the  power  of  healing  diseases ;  and  if  any  person  who  made  application  to  her  was 
not  healed,  she  attributed  it  to  a  want  of  faith.  She  asserted  that  those  who  refused  to 
believe  these  exalted  things  concerning  her,  will  be  in  the  state  of  the  unbelieving  Jews, 
who  rejected  the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves ;  and  she  told  her  hearers  that  that 
was  the  eleventh  hour,  and  the  last  call  of  mercy  that  ever  should  be  granted  to  them  ; 
for  she  heard  an  inquiry  in  heaven,  saying,  ‘  Who  will  go  and  preach  to  a  dying  world  ?’ 
and  she  said  she  answered,  ‘  Here  am  I — send  me and  that  she  left  the  realms  of  light 
and  glory,  and  the  company  of  the  heavenly  hosts,  who  are  continually  praising  and  wor¬ 
shipping  God,  in  order  to  descend  upon  earth,  and  pass  through  many  sufferings  and  trials 
for  the  happiness  of  mankind.  She  professed  to  be  able  to  work  miracles,  and  offered  to 
demonstrate  it  by  walking  on  the  water  in  imitation  of  our  Saviour  ;  accordingly  a 
frame  was  constructed  for  the  purpose  on  the  banks  of  the  Seneca  Lake,  at  Rapelyea’s 
ferry,  10  miles  south  of  Dresden.  At  the  appointed  time,  having  approached  within  a  few 
hundred  yards  of  the  lake  shore,  she  alighted  from  an  elegant  carriage,  the  road  being 
strewed  by  her  followers  with  white  handkerchiefs.  She  walked  to  the  platform,  and 
having  announced  her  intention  of  walking  across  the  lake  on  the  water,  she  stepped  an¬ 
kle  deep  into  the  clear  element ;  when  suddenly  pausing,  she  addressed  the  multitude,  in¬ 
quiring  whether  or  not  they  had  faith  that  she  could  pass  over,  for  if  otherwise  she  could 
not ;  and  on  receiving  an  affirmative  answer  returned  to  her  carriage,  declaring  as  they 
believed  in  her  power  it  was  unnecessary  to  display  it.” 


APPENDIX. 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS, 

OK 

MISCELLANEOUS  ITEMS 

RELATING  TO  THE 

HISTORY  OF  HEW  YORK. 


1.  Expedition  of  the  French  against  the  Seneca  Indians. 

The  Genesee  in  the  early  French  histories  is  called  the  Seneca 
river,  probably  from  the  circumstance  that  its  rich  valleys  were  stud¬ 
ded  with  the  villages  of  the  Senecas.  This  tribe,  one  of  the  Five 
Nations,  was  on  terms  of  friendship  with  the  English,  while  the  Indi¬ 
ans  of  the  upper  lakes  were  strongly  attached  to  the  French.  The 
subjects  of  these  rival  nations  were  exceedingly  jealous  of  each  other, 
particularly  with  respect  to  the  Indian  trade,  which  both  endeavored 
to  monopolize.  Hence  hostilities  between  these  parties  often  occur¬ 
red.  In  1787,  Monsieur  De  la  Barre,  the  governor  of  Canada,  having 
made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  against  the  Five  Nations,  the  Marquis 
De  Nonville,  his  successor,  resolved  to  retrieve  the  fallen  honor  of 
his  countrymen.  For  this  purpose  he  sent  messengers  to  the  tribes 
around  the  northern  lakes,  and  succeeded  in  collecting  a  considerable 
body  of  Indians  to  assist  him  in  his  enterprise  against  the  Senecas. 

“  Preparatory  to  this  expedition,  De  Nonville  collected  large  supplies  at  Cadarackui,  (now 
Kingston,)  in  anticipation  of  the  march  of  his  troops,  and  the  Indians  from  the  neighbor¬ 
hood  of  Quebec,  to  that  post.  The  advance  of  his  army,  consisting  of  two  or  three  hundred 
Canadians,  were  commanded  by  M.  Campagnie,  who  surprised  two  villages  of  the  Five 
Nations,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cadarackui,  and  put  the  inhabitants  to  death  with  great 
cruelty,  to  prevent  them,  as  it  was  said,  from  conveying  intelligence  of  the  movements  of 
the  French  to  their  own  people,  as  it  was  supposed  they  had  done  in  regard  to  the  last  ex¬ 
pedition  under  M.  De  la  Barre.  These  people,  however,  had  settled  there  at  the  invitation 
of  the  French,  and  anticipating  no  harm,  were  the  more  easily  surprised.  *  They  were 
carried  in  cold  blood  to  the  fort,’  (says  Dr.  Colden,)  ‘  and  tied  to  stakes  to  be  tormented  by 
the  French  Indians,  (Christians  as  they  were  called,)  and  during  the  torture  continued  sing 
ing  in  their  country  manner,  and  upbraiding  the  French  with  their  perfidy  and  ingratitude  * 


370 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


“ .  .  .  .  Several  attempts  of  the  English  to  sow  dissensions  among  the  upper  lake  IndL 
ans,  and  divert  them  from  their  purpose,  having  proved  unavailing,  and  De  Nonville’s  pre. 
parations  for  the  expedition  being  completed,  he  departed  from  Cadarackui  for  the  entrance 
of  the  Genesee  river  on  the  23d  of  June,  1687,  embarking  his  army  in  canoes,  and  sending 
one  half  thereof  along  the  northern  shore  of  the  lake,  while  he,  with  the  other  half,  passed 
coastwise  by  the  southern  shore,  that  no  accidents  by  wind  might  altogether  defeat  the  ex¬ 
pedition.  So  punctually  were  the  arrangements  executed,  that  both  divisions  arrived  at 
Irondequoit  on  the  same  day,  where  their  Indian  allies  appear  to  have  been  already  assem¬ 
bled.  Immediately  after  landing,  the  canoes  were  hauled  up,  and  a  military  defence  was 
constructed,  in  which  a  guard  of  four  hundred  men  was  left,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
forces  advanced  upon  the  principal  town  of  the  Senecas — the  site  of  which,  at  that  time, 
was  upon  the  Genesee  river,  within  the  territory  now  forming  the  town  of  Avon.  Before 
departing  from  Irondequoit,  however,  a  young  Canadian  Frenchman  was  shot  for  the  crime 
of  having  conducted  a  party  of  Englishmen  to  the  upper  lakes  The  charge  was  that  of 
being  a  spy,  although  France  and  England  were  then  at  peace. 

“  During  the  march,  the  Indians,  led  by  a  party  of  Indian  traders,  formed  the  van,  while 
the  regular  troops  and  Canadian  militia  composed  the  main  body  of  the  forces.  They  ad¬ 
vanced  four  leagues  on  the  first  day,  without  discovering  an  enemy.  On  the  morning  of 
the  second,  scouts  were  despatched  in  advance,  who  approached  the  cornfields  of  the  vil¬ 
lages  without  making  any  discoveries — a  circumstance  not  very  creditable  to  the  sagacity 
of  De  Nonville’s  Indians,  since  they  passed  within  pistol  shot  of  an  ambuscade  of  five  hun¬ 
dred  Senecas.  Supposing  the  warriors  had  all  fled,  De  Nonville  pushed  rapidly  forward, 
for  the  purpose  at  least  of  coming  up  with  and  capturing  the  women,  children,  and  old  men. 
But  no  sooner  had  the  French  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill,  (a  short  distance  north  of  Com¬ 
stock’s  hotel,  between  the  present  village  of  Avon  and  the  river,)  than  the  war-whoop  of 
the  ambuscade  rang  in  their  ears,  while  a  well-directed  volley  of  musketry  brought  many 
of  them  to  the  gronnd. 

“  The  surprise  was  complete,  and  the  panic  so  great  that  the  divisions  of  the  French 
separated  in  the  woods,  and  in  their  confusion  fired  upon  each  other.  Availing  themselves 
of  the  advantage,  the  Senecas  rushed  in  upon  their  foes  with  tomahawk  in  hand,  and  the 
battle  was  fierce  and  bloody  until  De  Nonville’s  regulars  had  time  to  rally  and  move  again 
in  phalanx.  The  braVe  Senecas  were  then  repulsed ;  but  it  was  an  empty  victory  to  De 
Nonville.  He  was  so  dispirited  by  the  surprise  he  had  met,  that  even  his  Indians  could  not 
persuade  him  to  a  pursuit  that  day.  On  the  following  day  he  marched  upon  the  villages, 
with  a  view  of  burning  them  ;  but  that  labor  had  been  performed  to  his  hands  by  the  Sene¬ 
cas  themselves.  Two  prisoners  only  were  made  by  the  invaders — old  men,  who  were  dis¬ 
covered  in  the  castle — and  who  were  cut  to  pieces  and  boiled  into  soup  for  De  Nonville’s 
allies.  The  invaders  remained  five  or  six  days,  traversing  the  valley  of  the  river  for  a  few 
miles,  and  destroying  the  growing  corn  in  the  fields.  They  then  returned  to  their  canoes, 
and  back  to  Canada — stopping  awhile  at  Niagara,  where  a  small  fort  was  erected,  in  which 
a  garrison  was  left  of  one  hundred  men.  The  Indians  from  the  upper  lakes  were  gratified 
with  the  erection  of  this  post,  believing  that  it  would  be  of  essential  service  in  their  opera¬ 
tions  against  the  Five  Nations,  whom  De  Nonville  promised  yet  to  assist  them  in  subduing. 
But  that  promise  was  never  fulfilled.  On  the  contrary,  the  fort  at  Niagara  was  so  closely 
invested  hy  the  Five  Nations,  that  eighty-eight  of  the  hundred  died  of  hunger,  and  but  for 
the  aid  of  a  party  of  French  Indians,  the  others  would  have  shared  the  same  fate.  The 
Five  Nations,  moreover,  afterward  carried  the  war  into  Canada,  even  to  Montreal  and  Que¬ 
bec.  The  loss  of  the  French,  killed  in  the  battle,  was  one  hundred  men  and  ten  Indians. 
The  Senecas  had  about  eighty  warriors  slain.  In  the  course  of  the  expedition,  De  Non¬ 
ville  contrived  to  make  thirteen  captives,  who  were  sent  to  France  as  trophies,  and  thence 
as  slaves  to  the  galleys.”* 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


371 


2.  Long  Island  Indians. 

The  following  account  of  the  Indians  on  Long  Island,  is  taken 
from  “  Wood’s  History  -of  Long  Island published  in  1828. 

“  When  the  first  settlements  were  made  on  the  island  by  the  Dutch  and  English,  it  ap¬ 
pears,  from  the  original  Indian  deeds,  that  the  principal  tribes  that  occupied  it,  were  as 
follows : — 

“  The  Canarse,  the  Rockaway,  the  Merikoke,  the  Marsapeague,  the  Secatague,  and  the 
Patchague,  on  the  south  side — the  Matinecoc,  the  Nissaquague,  the  Satauket,  and  the  Cor- 
chaug,  on  the  north  side  ;  the  Shinecoc,  the  Manhanset,  and  the  Montauk,  from  the  Canoe 
Place  on  Montauk  Point. 

“  The  Canarse  appears  to  have  been  the  only  tribe,  or  the  only  tribe  of  any  consequence, 
in  Kings  county.  This  tribe  claimed  the  chief  part  of  the  lands  in  Kings  county,  and  a 
part  of  the  lands  in  Jamaica. 

“  The  Rockaway  tribe  claimed  the  territory  around  Rockaway,  and  more  or  less  of  the 
lands  in  Newtown  and  Jamaica. 

“  The  Merikoke  and  Marsapeague  tribes  extended  from  Rockaway  through  Queens 
county  into  Suffolk,  on  the  south  side  of  the  island. 

“  The  territory  of  the  Matinecoc  tribe  extended  from  Flushing  through  Queens  county 
to  Fresh  Pond  in  Suffolk,  on  the  north  side. 

“  The  Nissaquague  tribe  extended  from  Fresh  Pond  to  Stonybrook. 

“  The  Satauket  tribe  claimed  from  Stonybrook  to  the  Wading  river. 

“  The  Corchaug  tribq  extended  from  the  Wading  river  through  South  Old  on  the  north 
side. 

“  The  territory  of  the  Manhanset  tribe  was  Shelter-Island. 

“  The  territory  of  the  Secataug  tribe  adjoined  that  of  the  Marsapeagues,  and  extended  to 
Patchogue. 

“  The  territory  of  the  Patchogue  tribe  extended  to  South  Hampton. 

“  The  Shinecoc  tribe  extended  from  the  Canoe  Point  to  Montauk,  and  that  peninsula 
was  the  seat  of  the  Montauk  tribe. 

“  There  are  one  or  two  other  tribes  named  in  the  old  records,  but  the  place  they  occu¬ 
pied  cannot  be  ascertained,  and  it  is  evident  from  that  circumstance,  that  they  must  have 
been  very  small,  perhaps  the  mere  remnants  of  tribes  which  had  been  destroyed  in  their 
wars. 

“  Those  above  enumerated  are  the  principal  tribes  that  occupied  the  island  when  the 
English  and  Dutch  commenced  their  settlements  there,  and  the  original  purchases  of  the 
several  towns  were  made  of  these  tribes. 

“  The  Indian  settlements  were  all  on  the  bays,  creeks,  and  harbors  on  the  north  and 
south  sides  of  the  island,  and  their  territories  were  divided  from  each  other  by  the  middle 
of  the  island. 

“  At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  island,  the  whole  Indian  population  was  con¬ 
siderable,  but  by  no  means  as  great  as  the  facilities  of  subsistence  would  have  authorized  us 
to  expect,  nor  as  great  as  it  probably  had  formerly  been. 

“  The  shell  banks  which  indicate  the  sites  of  their  villages,  on  the  western  half  of  the 
island,  are  large  and  numerous,  and  beds  of  shells  of  some  size  or  other  are  found  at  inter¬ 
vals  of  a  few  miles  all  around  the  margin  of  the  island.  From  these  it  would  seem  that 
the  population  of  some  parts  of  the  island  was  once  very  numerous,  or  must  have  been  sta¬ 
tionary  there  a  long  time.* 

“  The  state  of  the  Indian  population  must  be  ascribed  to  their  perpetual  wars,  by  which 
they  had  been  diminished. 

“  All  savage  nations  are  addicted  to  war.  The  causes  of  war  among  them  are  numerous, 
and  the  mode  of  carrying  it  on  destructive  to  their  numbers. 


*  “  The  shell  banks  in  the  western  towns  of  Suffolk  county  are  much  larger  and  more 
numerous  than  in  the  eastern  towns,  where  shell  fish  are  as  abundant :  which  proves  that 
the  western  part  of  the  island  had  been  the  longest  settled,  and  that  the  Indian  emigration 
proceeded  from  west  to  east.” 


372 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


“  It  appears  that  Long  Island  had  been  overrun  by  hostile  tribes,  and  many  of  the  natives 
must  have  been  destroyed  by  them. 

“  The  confederacy  of  the  Five  Nations  extended  their  conquests  as  far  soutn  as  Manhattan 
Island,  and  had  passed  over  to  the  west  end  of  Long  Island,  and  subdued  the  Canarse 
Indians. 

“  There  is  a  tradition  among  the  Dutch,  that  at  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the 
island,  the  Canarse  tribe  paid  the  Mohawks  an  annual  tribute  of  wampum  and  dried  clams, 
and  that  they  discontinued  the  payment  of  it  on  the  persuasion  of  the  whites,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  which  a  party  of  the  conquerors  came  and  destroyed  the  whole  tribe,  except  a 
few  who  happened  to  be  from  home. 

“  Some  writers  have  supposed  that  the  conquest  of  the  Mohawks  extended  to  the  whole 
island,  but  there  is  no  tradition  to  support  it,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  conquest  never 
extended  beyond  the  territories  of  the  Canarse  Indians.  This  may  have  been  owing  to  the 
fact,  that  all  the  other  Indians  were  in  subjection  to  the  Pequots.  It  is  well  known  that 
this  tribe  never  was  subdued  by  the  Five  Nations,  and  it  would  have  been  a  violation  of  their 
rules  of  warfare,  to  have  turned  their  arms  against  a  tributary  people,  when  they  had  not 
subdued  the  power  that  held  them  in  subjection. 

“  The  Montauks  had  probably  been  the  most  warlike  tribe  on  Long  Island,  had  overrun 
the  other  tribes  on  the  island  east  of  the  Canarse  territory,  and  had  reduced  them  to  some 
aind  of  subjection.  At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  island,  the  Montauk  sachem 
claimed  and  exercised  some  kind  of  sovereignty  over  the  whole  territory,  and  it  is  stated 
that  he  justified  his  claim  before  the  governor  and  council  in  virtue  of  a  former  conquest  of 
the  country.  In  1659,  he  conveyed  the  territory  which  constitutes  the  town  of  Smithtown, 
then  occupied  by  the  Nissaquague  Indians,  to  Lyon  Gardiner. 

“  It  was  under  a  belief  of  his  superiority  over  the  chiefs  of  the  other  tribes,  that  the  first 
settlers  were  anxious  to  have  their  purchase  deeds  signed  by  that  chief,  as  well  as  by  the 
sachem  of  the  tribe  of  whom  the  land  was  purchased. 

“  The  confirmation  deed  of  Hempstead  in  1657,  the  deed  for  Lloyd’s  neck,  and  others, 
are  executed  in  this  manner,  and  in  some  of  the  original  deeds  the  Mantauk  chief  is  styled 
the  sachem  of  Long  Island. 

“  The  superiority  ascribed  to  the  chief  of  that  tribe  after  the  settlement  of  the  country, 
might  have  arisen  in  part  from  the  distinction  conferred  on  him  or  recognised  by  the  com¬ 
missioners  of  the  united  colonies.  In  1651  it  is  stated  in  some  of  our  early  records,  that 
they  constituted  one,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  Montauk  chief,  grand  sachem  of 
.’he  Long  Island  Indians.  It  is  probable  that  the  commissioners  only  recognised  or  con¬ 
firmed  an  authority  with  which  they  found  him  invested. 

“It  is  evident  from  the  early  writers  of  New  England,  that  the  Pequots,  who  occupied 
the  country  around  New  London,  and  was  the  most  warlike  tribe  in  Connecticut,  had  sub¬ 
dued  the  Montauks  with  their  tributaries,  and  that  at  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of 
New  England,  the  Long  Island  Indians  were  in  subjection  to  the  Pequots,  and  paid  them 
a  tribute.  The  victory  over  the  Montauks  involved  the  subjection  of  all  the  tribes  that 
were  under  them,  and  the  conquest  of  the  Pequots  must  have  embraced  all  the  tribes  on 
the  island  east  of  the  Canarse  territory. 

“  In  1637,  the  New  England  colonies  made  war  on  the  Pequots,  to  avenge  the  murders 
and  other  hostile  aggressions  which  they  had  committed  on  the  whites,  and  subdued  and 
dispersed  the  whole  tribe.  The  Long  Island  Indians  who  had  been  subject  to  the  Pequots, 
immediately  repaired  to  the  English  to  make  their  peace  with  them.  Winthrop,  in  his 
journal,  states  that  on  the  reduction  of  the  Pequots  in  1637,  ‘sachems  from  Long  Island 
came  voluntarily  and  brought  a  tribute  to  us  of  twenty  fathom  of  wampum  each  of  them.’ 

“  From  this  time  they  seem  to  have  considered  themselves  to  be  in  subjection  to  the 
English,  and  to  have  paid  them  tribute,  perhaps  the  same  they  had  paid  the  Pequots.  In 
1644,  they  applied  to  the  commissioners  for  some  evidence  of  their  relation  to  them,  and 
the  commissioners  gave  them  a  certificate  in  writing,  in  effect  promising  them  security 
from  injury  by  the  English,  and  all  others  in  friendship  with  them ;  at  which  time  they  as. 
sured  the  commissioners  ‘  that  they  had  been  tributaries  to  the  English  ever  since  the  Pe- 
quot  war,  and  that  they  had  never  injured  the  English  or  Dutch,  but  had  been  friendly  to 
both,’  which  implied  that  they  had  been  subject  to  the  Pequots  and  followed  their  fate.  In 
1650,  the  commissioners  sent  Captain  Mason  to  Long  Island  to  require  payment  of  the 
tribute  due  from  the  Indians  there,  and  to  settle  a  way  in  which  it  might  be  punctually 
discharged  in  future. 

“  In  1656,  the  Montauk  chief  visited  the  commissioners  at  Boston,  and  in  answer  to  an 
inquiry  whether  he  had  paid  the  tribute  due  from  him,  stated  that  he  had  paid  it  at  Hartford 
for  the  space  of  ten  years,  and  that  it  was  in  arrear  for  the  four  last  years,  which  they  re. 
mitted  in  consideration  of  fris  distressed  condition  by  the  late  war  in  which  he  had  been 


INDIAN  WORSHIP. 

Led  on  by  their  Priests  or  Powaws  they  shouted  and  danced  around  a  large 
fire,  in  a  wild  and  fantastic  manner,  often  sacrificing  their  most  valuable 
treasures  by  throwing  them  into  the  fire. 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


373 


engaged  -with  the  Narragansetts.  In  1653,  Ninnigrate,  the  chief  of  the  Nehantic  Indians, 
■who  were  either  a  tribe  of  the  Narragansetts  or  closely  connected  with  them,  made  war 
on  the  Long  Island  Indians,  which  lasted  several  years,  and  reduced  them  to  great  ex¬ 
tremity.  He  invaded  the  territory  of  the  Montauks,  and  would  have  extirpated  the  whole 
tribe,  if  they  had  not  found  protection  in  the  humanity  of  the  people  of  East  Hampton. 

“  They  were  obliged  to  abandon  their  villages,  and  to  flee  for  refuge  to  East  Hampton 
where  they  were  kindly  received,  sustained,  and  protected.  They  continued  to  reside  ii 
that  town  for  several  years,  before  they  deemed  it  safe  to  return  to  Montauk.” 


3.  Conference  at  Unadilla  between  Gen.  Herkimer  and  Brant 

In  July,  1777,  a  conference  was  held  in  this  place  between  Gen. 
Herkimer  and  Joseph  Brant,  the  celebrated  Indian  chieftain,  who 
complained  of  being  threatened  by  Gen.  Schuyler ;  and  also,  that 
the  Mohawks  did  not  have  liberty  to  pass  and  repass  as  formerly, 
&c.,  &c.  The  following  account  of  this  meeting  is  given  in  the  An¬ 
nals  of  Try  on  county. 

“  Information  having  been  given,  Gen.  Herkimer  in  July  marched  to  Unadilla  with  380 
militia.  He  was  met  here  by  Brant  at  the  head  of  130  warriors.  Brant  complained  of  the 
same  grievances  as  above  set  forth.  To  the  question  whether  he  would  remain  at  peace 
if  these  things  were  rectified,  he  replied ;  ‘  The  Indians  were  in  concert  with  the  king,  as 
their  fathers  and  grandfathers  had  been.  That  the  king’s  belts  were  yet  lodged  with  them, 
and  they  could  not  falsify  their  pledge — That  Gen.  Herkimer  and  the  rest  had  joined  the 
Boston  people  against  their  king — That  Boston  people  were  resolute,  but  the  king  would 
humble  them — That  Mr.  Schuyler,  or  General,  or  what  you  please  to  call  him,  was  very 
smart  on  the  Indians  at  the  treaty  at  German  Flats ;  but  was  not  at  the  same  time  able  to 
afford  them  the  smallest  article  of  clothing — That  the  Indians  had  formerly  made  war  on 
the  white  people  all  united  ;  and  now  they  were  divided,  the  Indians  were  not  frightened.’ 

“  After  Brant  had  declared  his  determination  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  king,  Col.  Cox 
said,  if  such  was  his  resolution  the  matter  was  ended.  Brant  turned  and  spoke  to  his  war¬ 
riors,  who  shouted  and  ran  to  their  camp  about  a  mile  distant,  when  seizing  their  arms, 
they  fired  a  number  of  guns,  and  raised  the  Indian  war-whoop.  They  returned  immedi¬ 
ately.  when  Gen.  Herkimer  addressing  Brant,  told  him  he  had  not  come  to  tight.  Brant 
motioned  to  his  followers  to  remain  in  their  places.  Then  assuming  a  threatening  attitude, 
he  spid,  if  their  purpose  was  war,  he  was  ready  for  them.  He  then  proposed  that  Mr. 
Stewart,  the  missionary  among  the  Mohawks,  (who  was  supposed  friendly  to  the  English,) 
and  the  wife  of  Col.  Butler,  should  be  permitted  to  pass  from  the  lower  to  the  upper  Mo¬ 
hawk  castle. 

“  Gen.  Herkimer  assented,  but  demanded  that  the  tories  and  deserters  should  be  given 
up  to  him.  This  was  refused  by  Brant,  who  after  some  further  remarks,  added  that  he 
would  go  to  Oswego,  and  hold  a  treaty  with  Col.  Butler.  This  singular  conference  was 
singularly  terminated.  It  was  early  in  July,  and  the  sun  shone  forth  without  a  cloud  to 
obscure  it,  and  as  its  rays  gilded  the  tops  of  the  forest  trees,  or  were  reflected  from  the 
waters  of  the  Susquehannah,  imparted  a  rich  tint  to  the  wild  scenery  with  which  they  were 
surrounded.  The  echo  of  the  war-whoop  had  scarcely  died  away  before  the  heavens  be¬ 
came  black,  and  a  violent  storm  of  hail  and  rain  obliged  each  party  to  withdraw  and  seek 
the  nearest  shelter.  Men  less  superstitious  than  many  of  the  unlettered  yeomen  who,  lean¬ 
ing  upon  their  arms,  were  witnesses  of  the  events  of  this  day,  could  not  have  failed  in  after 
times  to  have  looked  back  upon  them,  if  not  as  an  omen,  at  least  as  an  emblem  of  those 
dreadful  massacres  with  which  these  Indians  and  their  associates  afterward  visited  the  in¬ 
habitants  of  this  unfortunate  frontier. 

“  Gen.  Herkimer  appears  to  have  been  unwilling  to  urge  matters  to  extreme,  though  he 
had  sufficient  power  to  have  defeated  the  Indians.  He  no  doubt  entertained  hopes  that 
some  amicable  arrangement  would  eventually  be  made  with  them. 

“  This  is  believed  to  have  been  the  last  conference  held  with  any  of  the  Six  Nations, 
except  the  Oneidas,  in  which  an  effort  was  made  to  prevent  the  Indians  engaging  in  the 
war.” 


374 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


4.  Indian  Sacrifice  at  Rochester,  1813. 

No  longer  ago  than  1813,  pagan  rites  were  performed  on  the  spot 
where  so  many  Christian  temples  have  been  since  erected.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  account  of  the  last  sacrifice  of  the  Senecas,  near  where  the 
Bethel  church  now  stands,  is  from  Mr.  O’Reilly’s  History. 

“  It  may  be  premised  that  the  Senecas,  and  probably  others  of  the  Six  Nations,  have 
five  feasts  annually;  on  which  occasions  it  is  customary  to  return  thanks  to  Nauwanew  for 
his  blessings,  or  to  deprecate  his  wrath.  At  these  times  also  the  chiefs  conversed  upon  the 
affairs  of  the  tribes,  and  generally  urged  upon  the  people  the  duty  of  demeaning  themselves 
so  as  to  ensure  a  continuance  of  the  favor  which  had  attended  them  in  their  pursuits  of 
peace  or  war.  These  feasts  followed  the  consummation  of  the  matters  usually  watched 
with  most  interest  by  Indians  in  peaceful  times — one  of  the  ceremonies  occurring  after 
‘  sugar-time ;’  another  after  planting ;  a  third  called  the  green-corn  feast,  when  the  maize 
first  becomes  fit  for  use  ;  the  fourth  after  the  corn-harvest ;  and  the  fifth  at  the  close  of  their 
year,  late  in  January  or  early  in  February,  according  to  the  moon. 

“  The  latter  ceremonial  was  performed  for  the  last  time  in  Rochester  in  January,  1813. 
The  concluding  rites  were  seen  by  some  of  the  few  persons  then  settled  in  ‘  these  parts.’ 
From  Mr.  Edwin  Scrantom,  now  a  merchant  of  the  city,  who  was  among  the  spectators, 
we  have  had  an  account  of  the  ceremonial,  as  far  as  he  beheld  it,  which  corresponds  with 
the  accounts  given  by  the  Rev,  Mr.  Kirkland,  long  a  missionary  among  the  Six  Nations, 
and  by  the  ‘  White  Woman,’  that  remarkable  associate  of  the  Senecas.  The  latter  person¬ 
age  related,  that  when  the  Indians  returned  from  hunting,  ten  or  twenty  of  their  number 
were  appointed  to  superintend  the  great  *  sacrifice  and  thanksgiving.’  Preparations  were 
made  at  the  council-house  or  other  place  of  meeting  for  the  accommodation  of  the  tribe 
during  the  ceremonial.  Nine  days  was  the  period,  and  two  white  dogs  the  number  and 
kind  of  animals  formerly  required  for  the  festival ;  though  in  these  latter  days  of  reform  and 
retrenchment  (for  the  prevailing  spirit  had  reached  even  the  wigwams  and  the  altars  of  the 
Senecas)  the  time  has  been  curtailed  to  seven  or  five  days,  and  a  single  dog  was  made  the 
scapegoat  to  bear  away  the  sins  of  the  tribe  !  Two  dogs,  as  nearly  white  as  could  be  pro¬ 
cured,  were  usually  selected  from  those  belonging  to  the  tribe,  and  were  carefully  killed  at 
the  door  of  the  council-house  by  means  of  strangulation ;  for  a  wound  on  the  animal  or  an 
effusion  of  blood  would  spoil  the  victim  for  the  sacrificial  purpose.  The  dogs  were  then 
fantastically  painted  with  various  colors,  decorated  with  feathers,  and  suspended  about 
twenty  feet  high  at  the  council-house  or  near  the  centre  of  the  camp.  The  ceremonial  is 
then  commenced,  and  the  five,  seven,  or  nine  days  of  its  continuance  are  marked  by  feast¬ 
ing  and  dancing,  as  well  as  by  sacrifice  and  consultation.  Two  select  bands,  one  of  men 
and  another  of  women,  ornamented  with  trinkets  and  feathers,  and  each  person  furnished 
with  an  ear  of  corn  in  the  right  hand,  dance  in  a  circle  around  the  council-fire,  which  is 
kindled  for  the  occasion,  and  regulate  their  steps  by  rude  music.  Hence  they  proceed  to 
every  wigwam  in  the  camp  ;  and,  in  like  manner,  dance  in  a  circle  around  each  fire.  Af¬ 
terward,  on  another  day,  several  men  clothe  themselves  in  the  skins  of  wild  beasts,  cover 
their  faces  with  hideous  masks  and  their  hands  with  the  shell  of  the  tortoise,  and  in  this 
garb  they  go  among  the  wigwams,  making  horrid  noises,  taking  the  fuel  from  the  fire,  and 
scattering  the  embers  and  ashes  about  the  floor,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  away  evil  spirits. 
The  persons  performing  these  operations  are  supposed  not  only  to  drive  off  the  evil  spirit, 
but  to  concentrate  within  themselves  all  the  sins  of  their  tribe.  These  sins  are  afterward 
all  transfused  into  one  of  their  own  number,  who,  by  some  magical  dexterity  or  sleight-of- 
hand,  works  off  from  himself  into  the  dogs  the  concentrated  wickedness  of  the  tribe  !  The 
scapegoat  dogs  are  then  placed  on  a  pile  of  wood,  to  which  fire  is  applied,  while  the  sur¬ 
rounding  crowd  throw  tobacco  or  other  incense  upon  the  flame,  the  scent  of  which  is 
deemed  to  co-operate  with  the  sacrifice  of  the  animals  in  conciliating  the  favor  of  Nauwa¬ 
new  or  the  Great  Spirit.  When  the  dogs  are  partly  consumed,  one  is  taken  off  and  put 
into  a  large  kettle  with  vegetables  of  various  kinds,  and  all  around  devour  the  contents  of 
the  *  reeking  caldron.’  After  this  the  Indians  perform  the  dances  of  war  and  peace,  and 
smoke  the  calumet :  then,  free  from  wickedness,  they  repair  to  their  respective  places  of 
abode,  prepared  for  the  events  of  the  new  year.” 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


375 


5.  An  Account  of  the  Indian  Chiefs,  Cornplanter  and  Big  Kettle. 

At  the  mouth  of  Cold*  Spring  creek,  entering  the  Allegany, 
is  an  “  Indian  village  called  Tunes-assah ;  the  reservation,  one  mile 
in  width  along  the  river,  extends  some  miles  above  and  several  be¬ 
low  this  point  into  Pennsylvania ;  this  remnant  lately  had  at  its  head 
the  celebrated  chief  Cornplanter,  who  died  early  in  the  year  1836, 
aged  about  100  years.  Some  of  the  tribe  are  wealthy;  have  large 
stocks  of  cattle,  and  some  saw-mills.  Much  is  due  for  the  improve¬ 
ment  of  their  condition  to  the  judicious  efforts  of  the  society  of 
‘  Friends,’  of  Philadelphia,  who  have  long  maintained  instructers 
among  them,  teaching  the  primitive  arts  of  civilization,  and  who 
have  a  settlement  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town.”  Some  of  the 
last  of  the  Indian  prophets  incorporated  a  part  of  the  tenets  of  Chris¬ 
tianity  into  their  pagan  system.  A  few  years  since,  a  portion  of  the 
Indians  in  this  town  were  in  the  practice  of  collecting  around  a  log 
about  30  feet  long,  worked  into  a  resemblance  of  the  human  form,  to 
which  they  performed  a  kind  of  worship.  The  son  of  Cornplanter 
subsequently  persuaded  them  to  throw  it  into  the  river. 

Cornplanter,  the  chief  above-mentioned,  it  appears,  was  the  son  of 
a  white  man,  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Plank  ;  his  mother  was 
a  young  woman  of  the  Seneca  tribe.  The  Seneca  Indians,  during 
the  revolutionary  war,  were  led  on  against  the  Americans  in  the  Mo¬ 
hawk  valley,  by  Cornplanter,  who,  in  one  of  his  incursions,  took  his 
father  prisoner.  He  however  treated  him  well,  and  released  him 
from  confinement.  In  a  letter  written  by  Cornplanter  to  the  govern¬ 
or  of  Pennsylvania  in  1822,  complaining  of  the  attempt  to  impose 
taxes  upon  him  and  the  Senecas  residing  on  the  Allegany,  he  began 
as  follows: 

“  When  I  was  a  child,  I  played  with  the  butterfly,  the  grasshopper,  and  the  frogs.  As  I 
grew  up,  I  began  to  pay  some  attention,  and  play  with  the  Indian  boys  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  they  took  notice  of  my  skin  being  a  different  color  from  theirs,  and  spoke  about  it.  I 
inquired  of  my  mother  the  cause,  and  she  told  me  that  my  father  was  a  resident  of  Albany. 
I  ate  still  my  victuals  out  of  a  bark  dish :  I  grew  up  to  be  a  young  man,  and  married  me  a 
wife,  but  I  had  no  kettle  or  gun.  I  then  knew  where  my  father  lived,  and  went  to  see 
him,  and  found  he  was  a  white  man  and  spoke  the  English  language.  He  gave  me  victuals 
while  I  was  at  his  house,  but  when  I  started  to  return  home  he  gave  me  no  provision  to  eat 
on  the  way.  He  gave  me  neither  kettle  nor  gun,  neither  did  he  tell  me  that  the  United 
States  were  about  to  rebel  against  the  government  of  England,”  &c.  &c. 

“  Cornplanter  lived  to  a  great  age,  having  deceased  within  the  last  eight  or  ten  years. 
He  was  an  able  man,  distinguished  in  subsequent  negotiations.  He  was  eloquent,  and  a 
great  advocate  for  temperance.  He  made  a  very  effective  and  characteristic  speech  upon 
that  subject  in  1822.  ‘  The  Great  Spirit  first  made  the  world,  and  next  the  flying  animals, 
and  found  all  things  good  and  prosperous.  He  is  immortal  and  everlasting.  After  finish, 
ing  the  flying  animals,  he  came  down  upon  the  earth  and  there  stood.  Then  he  made  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  of  trees,  and  woods  of  all  sorts,  and  people  of  every  kind.  He  made  the 
spring  and  other  seasons,  and  the  weather  suitable  for  planting.  These  he  did  make.  But 
stills,  to  make  whiskey  to  give  to  Indians,  he  did  not  make.’  *  *  *  *  ‘  The  Great 

Spirit  told  us  that  there  were  three  things  for  people  to  attend  to.  First,  we  ought  to  take 
care  of  our  wives  and  children.  Secondly,  the  white  people  ought  to  attend  to  their  farms 
and  cattle.  Thild-y,  the  Great  Spirit  has  given  the  bears  and  deers  to  the  Indians.’  *  *  * 
The  Great  Spirit  has  ordered  me  to  quit  drinking.  He  wishes  me  to  inform  the  people 


376 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


that  they  should  quit  drinking  intoxicating  drink.’  In  the  course  of  the  same  speech,  he 
gave  evidence  that  he  was  not  overmuch  pleased  with  the  admixture  of  his  own  blood. 
*  *  *  ‘  The  different  kinds  the  Great  Spirit  made  separate,  and  not  to  mix  with  and 

disturb  each  other.  But  the  white  people  have  broken  this  command,  by  mixing  their 
color  with  the  Indians.  The  Indians  have  done  better  by  not  doing  so.’  ” — Stone's  Life 
of  Brant. 

Ganothjowaneh,  a  distinguished  chief  of  the  Seneca  tribe,  was,  it 
is  said,  a  superior  orator  to  Red  Jacket.  He  was  called  by  the 
whites,  Big  Kettle,  that  being  the  signification  of  his  Indian  name.  It 
is  stated  that  he  never  tasted  ardent  spirits,  and  opposed  the  practice 
among  the  Indians,  and  suffered  some  persecutions  on  this  account. 
During  the  early  period  of  his  life,  he  was  opposed  to  the  introduction 
of  Christianity,  but  latterly  was  rather  in  favor  of  it.  Mr.  Wright, 
the  missionary,  now  living  among  the  Senecas,  near  Buffalo,  attempt¬ 
ed  to  persuade  him  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion.  When  told 
that  he  was  a  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God,  Big  Kettle  appeared  to  be 
somewhat  surprised  ;  throwing  himself  in  an  oratorical  attitude,  he 
recounted  a  long  list  of  his  good  deeds,  and  endeavored  to  make  it 
appear  that  he  was  not  a  sinner.  He  once  came  to  Mr.  Wright,  and 
asked  him  the  question,  “  Does  God  overrule  all  things  ?”  “  Certainly,” 
replied  Mr.  Wright.  “  I  tell  my  people  so,  in  council,”  replied  Big 
Kettle ;  “  but  when  I  am  alone,  and  think  how  much  iniquity  is  prac¬ 
tised  by  the  white  people  in  getting  away  our  lands,  &c.,  and  how  they 
go  on  without  being  punished,  I  have  my  doubts.”  He  said  that  the 
preaching  of  the  missionaries  was  good,  and  that  the  Indians  would 
listen  to,  and  follow  it,  but  he  said  it  would  be  useless  :  the  bad  habits 
of  his  people  were  so  strong,  the  attempt  to  break  them  up  would  be 
as  idle  as  to  “  stop  the  wind  from  blowing  down  Lake  Erie.” 

6.  First  settlers  of  Greene,  Chenango  Co. — Indian  Relics,  tyc. 

The  first  white  inhabitants  who  located  themselves  on  the  site  of 
the  village,  were  eight  or  ten  French  families,  who  fled  from  their 
country  during  the  revolutionary  period.  The  first  one  who  came 
appears  to  have  been  Simon  Barnet,  who  is  said  to  have  been  a 
creole  from  the  West  Indies.  He  came  to  this  place  from  Philadel¬ 
phia,  probably  sent  as  a  pioneer  for  the  French  company.  One  of 
the  emigrants,  M.  Dutremont,  was  a  man  of  considerable  talents, 
learning,  and  wealth.  This  gentleman  contracted  for  the  lands  settled 
by  the  company.  The  purchase  was  made  of  William  W.  Morris 
and  Malachi  Treat,  the  patentees.  Capt.  Juliand,  one  of  the  French 
emigrants,  came  into  the  place  in  1797,  a  little  after  the  first  company. 
About  the  year  1795,  the  celebrated  French  statesman,  Talleyrand, 
visited  this  place,  when  on  a  sylvan  jaunt  on  horseback  from  Phila¬ 
delphia  to  Albany  in  company  with  a  French  gentleman.  When  here, 
he  became  acquainted  with  the  son  of  M.  Dutremont,  with  whom  he 
was  so  much  pleased,  that  he  obtained  the  consent  of  his  parents  to 
take  him  to  France,  where  he  became  his  private  secretary.  By  the 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


377 


death  of  M.  Dutremont,  the  financial  affairs  of  the  little  colony  be¬ 
came  deranged.  He  was  drowned  while  fording  a  river  on  horse¬ 
back,  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia.  As  he  had  not  paid  for  the  land 
occupied  by  the  emigrants,  it  reverted  back  to  the  patentees.  The 
emigrants  became  discouraged,  and  after  a  few  years  left  the  place, 
moved  down  below  Towanda,  and  joined  a  French  settlement  at  a 
place  called  Frenchtown,  now  Asylum.  Capt.  Juliand,  however,  re¬ 
mained  in  Greene,  and  to  him  and  Judge  Elisha  Smith  the  founda¬ 
tion  of  the  village  is  to  be  ascribed. 

“  There  were  no  Indians  in  this  particular  section,  when  first  settled  by  the  whites.  But 
we  have  to  record  a  most  remarkable  mound,  the  relic  of  Indian  superstition  and  industry. 
There  are  now  to  be  seen  only  some  imperfect  traces  of  it.  It  was  situated  about  two 
miles  south  of  the  village,  and  about  thirty  rods  from  the  river  bank,  on  what  is  now  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Lott.  The  mound,  before  it  was  dug  down  or  ploughed  over,  was  about  six  or 
seven  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  forty  feet  in  diameter ;  being  nearly  cir¬ 
cular.  There  was  also,  till  within  a  few  years,  a  large  pine  stump  in  the  centre  of  it,  the 
remains  of  a  large  pine-tree  which  was  standing  when  the  whites  came  in.  It  was  then, 
however,  a  dead  tree.  When  it  was  cut  down,  there  were  counted  180  concentric  circles 
or  yearly  growths.  Estimating  the  age  of  the  mound  by  the  concentric  circles  of  the 
stump,  it  must  have  been  over  200  years  old  when  this  section  of  the  country  was  settled. 
An  examination  of  this  mound  was  made  in  1829,  by  digging,  and  there  were  found  hu¬ 
man  bones  to  a  great  number ;  and  lower  from  the  surface,  there  were  found  bones  that 
had  been  evidently  burnt ;  suggesting  the  idea,  that  the  mode  of  disposing  of  the  dead, 
when  these  bones  were  deposited,  was  burning  the  dead  body.  No  conjecture  could  be 
formed  as  to  the  number  of  bodies  buried  here.  They  were  found  lying  without  order, 
very  much  jumbled,  and  so  far  decayed  as  to  crumble,  or  fall  apart,  when  brought  to  the 
air  and  handled.  The  supposition  would  not  be  an  unlikely  one,  that  these  bones  were  the 
remains  of  bodies  which  had  fallen  in  battle,  and  were  afterward  hurriedly  thrown  together 
and  buried.  *  *  *  *  In  the  mound  near  Greene,  there  were  found,  lying  quite  in  one  pile, 
200  arrow  heads,  cut  after  their  usual  form,  and  all  either  of  yellow  or  black  flint.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  there  are  no  stones  of  this  kind  found  in  this  part  of  the  state  of  New 
Y ork.  In  another  part  of  the  mound  there  were  found,  lying  together,  about  sixty,  made 
after  the  same  form.  A  silver  band  or  ring  was  also  found,  of  about  two  inches  in  di¬ 
ameter,  extremely  thin,  but  wide,  with  the  remains — in  appearance — of  a  reed  pipe,  lying 
within  it.  The  supposition  is,  that  it  was  some  sort  of  musical  instrument.  There  was 
also  found  a  number  of  stone  chisels,  of  different  shapes,  evidently  fitted  to  perform  differ¬ 
ent  species  of  work.  A  large  piece  of  mica  also,  cut  into  the  form  of  a  heart  •  the  border 
much  decayed,  and  the  different  laminae  separated.” — Annals  of  Binghamton. 

7.  Destruction  at  the  German  Flats  by  the  Tories  and  Indians  in  1778. 

“  At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  the  settlement  on  the  south  side  of  the  river 
numbered  34  dwelling-houses,  and  there  were  about  an  equal  number  upon  the  north  side, 
together  with  as  many  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  several  mills.  The  population, 
for  the  number  of  houses,  was  numerous.  The  lands,  rich  by  nature,  and  well  cultivated, 
had  that  year  brought  forth  by  handfuls  ;  so  that  the  barns  were  amply  stored  with  their 
products. 

“  It  was  at  the  close  of  August,  or  early  in  the  month  of  September,  that  this  fine  district 
was  laid  waste  by  the  Indians  under  the  direction  of  Brant.  Most  providentially,  however, 
the  invasion  was  attended  with  the  loss  of  but  two  lives — one  man  being  killed  outright, 
and  another,  named  McGinnis,  perished  in  the  flames.  The  particulars  of  this  hostile  irrup¬ 
tion  were  these : — Entertaining  some  suspicions  of  Brant,  who  was  at  Unadilla,  a  scout  of 
four  men  had  been  despatched  into  that  vicinity  for  observation.  Three  of  these  men  were 
killed  at  the  Edme3ton  settlement.  The  fourth,  John  Helmer,  succeeding  in  making  his 
escape,  and  returned  to  the  Flats  at  half  an  hour  before  sun-down,  just  in  time  to  announce 
that  Brant,  with  a  large  body  of  Indians,  was  advancing,  and  would,  in  a  few  hours,  be  upon 
them.  All  was,  of  course,  terror  and  alarm  through  the  settlement ;  and  the  inhabitants — 
men,  women,  and  children — were  gathered  into  forts  Dayton  and  Herkimer  for  security. 
In  flying  to  those  defences,  they  gathered  up  the  most  valuable  of  their  stuff,  and  by  means 

48 


378 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


of  boats  and  canoes  upon  the  river,  succeeded,  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  in  collecting  a 
large  portion  of  their  best  articles  of  furniture.  But  they  had  no  time  to  look  after  their 
flocks  and  herds. 

“  Early  in  the  evening  Brant  arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  settlement,  but  as  the  night  came 
on  excessively  dark  and  rainy,  he  halted  with  his  forces  in  a  ravine,  near  the  house  of  his 
tory  friend  Shoemaker,  where  the  younger  Butler  and  his  party  were  captured  the  preceding 
year.  Here  the  chieftain  lay  with  his  warriors  until  the  storm  broke  away  towards  morning 
— unconscious  that  his  approach  had  been  notified  to  the  people  by  the  scout  in  season  to 
enable  them  to  escape  the  blow  of  his  uplifted  arm.  Before  the  dawn  he  was  on  foot,  and 
his  warriors  were  sweeping  through  the  settlement ;  so  that  the  torch  might  be  almost  sim. 
ultaneously  applied  to  every  building  it  contained.  Just  as  the  day  was  breaking  in  the 
east,  the  fires  were  kindled,  and  the  whole  section  of  the  valley  was  speedily  illuminated  by 
the  flames  of  houses  and  barns,  and  all  things  else  combustible.  The  spectacle,  to  the 
people  in  the  forts,  was  one  of  melancholy  grandeur.  Every  family  saw  the  flames  and 
smoke  of  its  own  domicil  ascending  to  the  skies,  and  every  fanner  the  whole  product  of  his 
labor  for  the  season  dissolving  into  ashes. 

“  Having  no  fire-arms  larger  than  their  rifles,  the  Indians  avoided  even  a  demonstration 
against  the  forts,  notwithstanding  their  chagrin  that  neither  scalps  nor  prisoners  were  to  grace 
their  triumph.  But  as  the  light  of  day  advanced,  their  warriors  were  seen  singly,  or  in  small 
groups,  scouring  the  fields,  and  driving  away  all  the  horses,  sheep,  and  black  cattle  that 
could  be  found.  Nothing  upon  which  they  could  lay  their  hands  was  left ;  and  the  settle¬ 
ment,  which,  but  the  day  before,  for  ten  miles  had  smiled  in  plenty  and  in  beauty,  was  now 
houseless  and  destitute.  Happily,  however,  of  human  life  there  was  no  greater  sacrifice 
than  has  already  been  mentioned.  After  the  Indians  had  decamped  with  their  booty,  a 
force  of  between  300  and  400  militia-men  collected,  and  went  in  pursuit — following  as  far 
as  Edmeston’s  plantation  on  the  Unadilla  river,  where  the  bodies  of  the  three  scouts  were 
found  and  buried.  But  no  other  results  attended  this  expedition.” 


8.  Remarkable  fulfilment  of  a  Dream  of  Jacob  Sammons,  1780. 

In  an  incursion,  Mr.  Sampson  Sammons  and  his  three  sons,  all 
stanch  whigs,  residing  in  Jamestown,  were  captured  by  the  enemy 
and  their  dwelling  laid  in  ashes.  The  elder  Mr.  Sammons  and  his 
youngest  son,  a  youth  of  eighteen,  were  released  by  Sir  John,  but 
Jacob  and  Frederick,  the  other  sons,  were  taken  to  Canada  and  con¬ 
fined  in  the  fortress  of  Chamblee.  From  this  place  they  made  their 
escape,  and  after  a  series  of  dreadful  suffering,  in  their  flight  through 
the  wilderness,  arrived  in  safety  among  their  friends.  A  long  and 
interesting  account  of  their  adventures  is  given  in  Col.  Stone’s  Life 
of  Brant. 

“  A  singular  but  well-attested  occurrence,”  says  Col.  Stone,  “  closes  this  interesting  per¬ 
sonal  narrative.  The  family  of  the  elder  Sammons  had  long  given  up  Frederick  as  lost. 
On  the  morning  after  his  arrival  at  Schenectady,  he  despatched  a  letter  to  his  father,  by  the 
hand  of  an  officer  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  who  left  it  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Levi  De 
Witt,  five  miles  distant  from  the  residence  of  the  old  gentleman.  The  same  night  on 
which  the  letter  was  thus  left,  Jacob  dreamed  that  his  brother  Frederick  was  living,  and 
that  there  was  a  letter  from  him  at  De  Witt’s  announcing  the  joyful  tidings.  The  dream 
was  repeated  twice,  and  the  contents  of  the  letter  were  so  strongly  impressed  upon  his 
mind,  that  he  repeated  what  he  believed  was  the  very  language,  on  the  ensuing  morning — 
insisting  that  such  a  letter  was  at  the  place  mentioned.  The  family,  his  father  in  particu¬ 
lar,  laughed  at  him  for  his  credulity.  Strong,  however,  in  the  belief  that  there  was  such  a 
communication,  he  repaired  to  the  place  designated,  and  asked  for  the  letter.  Mr.  De  Witt 
looked  for  it,  but  replied  there  was  none.  Jacob  requested  a  more  thorough  search,  and 
behold  the  letter  was  found  behind  a  barrel,  where  it  had  fallen.  Jacob  then  requested 
Mr.  De  Witt  to  open  the  letter,  and  examine  while  he  recited  its  contents.  He  did  so,  and 
the-  dreamer  repeated  it  word  for  word.” 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


379 


9.  Death  of  the  faithful  Oneida  Guide. 

At  the  time  of  Sullivan’s  expedition  to  Western  New  York,  the 
enemy  captured  two  friendly  Oneidas,  who  had,  from  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  rendered  the  Americans  constant  service,  and  one  of 
whom  was  then  acting  as  Gen.  Sullivan’s  principal  guide.  This  In¬ 
dian  had  an  older  brother  engaged  with  the  enemy,  who,  as  they  met, 
is  said  (in  Stone’s  Brant )  to  have  addressed  him  as  follows : 

“  Brother  !  You  have  merited  death.  The  hatchet  or  the  war-club  shall  finish  your 
career.  When  I  begged  of  you  to  follow  me  in  the  fortunes  of  war,  you  were  deaf  to 
my  entreaties. 

“Brother!  You  have  merited  death,  and  shall  have  your  deserts.  When  the  rebels 
raised  their  hatchets  to  fight  against  their  good  master,  you  sharpened  your  knife,  you 
brightened  your  rifle,  and  led  on  our  foes  to  the  fields  of  our  fathers. 

“  Brother  !  You  have  merited  death,  and  shall  die  by  our  hands.  When  those  rebels 
had  driven  us  from  the  fields  of  our  fathers  to  seek  out  new  houses,  it  was  you  who 
could  dare  to  step  forth  as  their  pilot,  and  conduct  them  even  to  the  doors  of  our  wig¬ 
wams,  to  butcher  our  children  and  put  us  to  death.  No  crime  can  be  greater.  But 
though  you  have  merited  death,  and  shall  die  on  this  spot,  my  hands  shall  not  be  stained 
with  the  blood  of  a  brother.  Who  will  strike  ?” 

In  an  instant  the  tomahawk  of  Little  Beard  was  twirled  with  lightning  rapidity  over 
his  head,  and  in  another  the  brave  Oneida,  the  friend  of  America  and  of  humanity,  lay 
dead  at  the  feet  of  the  infuriated  chief. 

10.  Battle  of  Bennington. 

The  progress  of  Burgoyne  thoroughly  alarmed  the  American 
states,  it  being  well  known  that  the  American  forces  under  Gen. 
Schuyler  were  not  sufficient  to  prevent  the  capture  of  Albany,  when¬ 
ever  it  was  reached  by  the  enemy.  Instead  of  thinking  of  submission, 
the  Americans  met  this  alarming  crisis  with  firmness  and  resolution, 
and  great  exertions  were  made  to  reinforce  the  army.  Gen.  Lincoln 
was  directed  to  raise  and  take  the  command  of  the  New  England 
militia.  Gen.  Arnold,  and  Col.  Morgan  with  his  riflemen,  were  de¬ 
tached  to  the  northern  army,  and  congress  elected  Gen.  Gates  as 
commander. 

“  While  the  American  army  was  thus  assuming  a  more  respectable  appearance,  Gen. 
Burgoyne  was  making  very  slow  advances  towards  Albany.  From  the  28th  of  July  to  the 
15th  of  August,  (1777,)  the  British  anny  was  continually  employed  in  bringing  forward 
batteaux,  provisions,  and  ammunition  from  Fort  George,  to  the  first  navigable  part  of  Hud¬ 
son’s  river;  a  distance  of  not  more  than  18  miles.  The  labor  was  excessive,  the  Europe¬ 
ans  were  but  little  acquainted  with  the  methods  of  performing  it  to  advantage,  and  the 
effect  was  in  no  degree  equivalent  to  the  expense  of  labor  and  time.  With  £11  the  efforts 
that  Burgoyne  could  make,  encumbered  with  his  artillery  and  baggage,  his  labors  were 
inadequate  to  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  army  with  provisions  for  its  daily  consumption, 
an^  the  establishment  of  the  necessary  magazines.  And  after  his  utmost  exertions  for  15 
days,  there  were  not  above  4  days’  provisions  in  the  store,  nor  above  10  batteaux  in  Hud¬ 
son’s  river. 

“  In  such  circumstances  the  British  general  found  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  procure 
sufficient  supplies  of  provision  by  the  way  of  Fort  George,  and  determined  to  replenish  his 
own  magazines  at  the  expense  of  those  of  the  Americans.  Having  received  information 
that  a  large  quantity  of  stores  were  laid  up  at  Bennington,  and  guarded  only  by  the  militia, 
he  formed  the  design  of  surprising  that  place  ;  and  was  made  to  believe  that  as  soon  as  a 
detachment  of  the  royal  army  should  appear  in  that  quarter,  it  would  receive  effectual  as¬ 
sistance  from  a  large  body  of  loyalists,  who  only  waited  for  the  appearance  of  a  support, 
and  would  in  that  event  come  forward  and  aid  the  royal  cause.  Full  of  these  expectations, 
he  detached  Col.  Baum,  a  German  officer,  with  a  select  body  of  troops,  to  surprise  the 


380 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


place.  His  force  consisted  of  about  500  regular  troops,  some  Canadians,  and  more  than 
100  Indians,  with  two  light  pieces  of  artillery.  To  facilitate  their  operations,  and  to  be 
ready  to  take  advantage  of  the  success  of  the  detachment,  the  royal  army  moved  along  the 
east  bank  of  Hudson’s  river,  and  encamped  nearly  opposite  to  Saratoga ;  having  at  the  same 
time  thrown  a  bridge  of  rafts  over  the  river,  by  which  the  army  passed  to  that  place.  With 
a  view  to  support  Baum,  if  it  should  be  found  necessary,  Lieut.  Col.  Breyman’s  corps,  con. 
sisting  of  the  Brunswick  grenadiers,  light  infantry  and  chasseurs,  were  posted  at  Battenkill. 

“  Gen.  Stark  having  received  information  that  a  party  of  Indians  were  at  Cambridge, 
sent  Lieut.  Col.  Greg,  on  August  the  13th,  with  a  party  of  200  men  to  stop  their  progress. 
Towards  night  he  was  informed  by  express,  that  a  large  body  of  regulars  was  in  the  rear 
of  the  Indians,  and  advancing  towards  Bennington.  On  this  intelligence,  Stark  drew  to. 
gether  his  brigade,  and  the  militia  that  were  at  hand,  and  sent  on  to  Manchester  to  Col. 
Warner  to  bring  on  his  regiment;  he  sent  expresses  at  the  same  time  to  the  neighboring 
militia,  to  join  him  with  the  utmost  speed.  On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  he  marched  with 
his  troops,  and  at  the  distance  of  7  miles  he  met  Greg  on  the  retreat,  and  the  enemy  within 
a  mile  of  him.  Stark  drew  up  his  troops  in  order  of  battle  ;  but  the  enemy  coming  in  sight, 
halted  upon  a  very  advantageous  piece  of  ground.  Baum  perceived  the  Americans  were 
too  strong  to  be  attacked  with  his  present  force,  and  sent  an  express  to  Burgoyne  with  an 
account  of  his  situation,  and  to  have  Breyman  march  immediately  to  support  him.  In  the 
mean  time  small  parties  of  the  Americans  kept  up  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  killed  and 
wounded  30  of  them,  with  two  of  their  Indian  chiefs,  without  any  loss  to  themselves.  The 
ground  the  Americans  had  taken  was  unfavorable  for  a  general  action,  and  Stark  retreated 
about  a  mile  and  encamped.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  and  it  was  agreed  to  send  two 
detachments  upon  the  enemy’s  rear,  while  the  rest  of  the  troops  should  make  an  attack 
upon  their  front.  The  next  day  the  weather  was  rainy,  and  though  it  prevented  a  general 
action,  there  were  frequeftt  skirmishings  in  small  parties,  which  proved  favorable  and  en¬ 
couraging  to  the  Americans. 

“  On  August  the  16th,  in  the  morning,  Stark  was  joined  by  Col.  Symonds  and  a  body 
of  militia  from  Berkshire,  and  proceeded  to  attack  the  enemy,  agreeably  to  the  plan  which 
had  been  concerted.  Col.  Baum  in  the  mean  time  had  entrenched,  on  an  advantageous 
piece  of  ground  near  St.  Koicks  mills,  on  a  branch  of  Hoosick  river,  and  rendered  his  post 
as  strong  as  his  circumstances  and  situation  would  admit.  Col.  Nichols  was  detached  with 
200  men  to  the  rear  of  his  left,  Col.  Herrick,  with  300  men  to  the  rear  of  his  right ;  both 
were  to  join  and  then  make  the  attack.  Cols.  Hubbard  and  Stickney,  with  200  more,  were 
ordered  on  the  right,  and  100  were  advanced  towards  the  front  to  draw  the  attention  of  the 
enemy  that  way.  About  3  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  the  troops  had  taken  their  situation,  and 
were  ready  to  commence  the  action.  While  Nichols  and  Herrick  were  bringing  their 
troops  together,  the  Indians  were  alarmed  at  the  prospect,  and  pushed  off  between  the  two 
corps ;  but  received  a  fire  as  they  were  passing,  by  which  three  of  them  were  killed,  and 
two  wounded.  Nichols  then  began  the  attack,  and  was  followed  by  all  the  other  divisions ; 
those  in  the  front  immediately  advanced,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  action  became  general. 
It  lasted  about  two  hours,  and  was  like  one  continued  peal  of  thunder.  Baum  made  a 
brave  defence  ;  and  the  German  dragoons,  after  they  had  expended  their  ammunition,  led 
by  their  colonel,  charged  with  their  swords,  but  they  were  soon  overpowered.  Their  works 
were  carried  on  all  sides,  their  two  pieces  of  cannon  were  taken,  Col.  Baum  himself  was 
mortally  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  all  his  men,  except  a  few  who  had  escaped  into 
the  woods,  were  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  Having  completed  the  business  by  taking 
the  whole  party,  the  militia  began  to  disperse,  and  look  out  for  plunder.  But  in  a  few 
minutes  Stark  received  information  that  a  large  reinforcement  was  on  their  march,  and 
within  two  miles  of  him.  Fortunately  at  that  moment  Col.  Warner  came  up  with  his  regi¬ 
ment  from  Manchester.  This  brave  and  experienced  officer  commanded  a  regiment  of 
continental  troops,  which  had  been  raised  in  Vermont.  Mortified  that  he  had  not  been  in 
the  former  engagement,  he  instantly  led  on  his  men  against  Breyman,  and  began  the  second 
engagement.  Stark  collected  the  militia  as  soon  as  possible,  and  pushed  on  to  his  assist, 
ance.  The  action  became  general,  and  the  battle  continued  obstinate  on  both  sides  till 
sunset,  when  the  Germans  were  forced  to  give  way,  and  were  pursued  till  dark.  They 
left  their  two  field-pieces  behind,  and  a  considerable  number  were  made  prisoners.  They 
retreated  in  the  best  manner  they  could,  improving  the  advantages  of  the  evening  and 
night,  to  which  alone  their  escape  was  ascribed. 

“  In  these  actions  the  Americans  took  4  brass  field-pieces,  12  brass  drums,  250  dragoon 
swords,  4  ammunition  wagons,  and  about  700  prisoners,  with  their  arms  and  accoutre¬ 
ments  ; — 207  men  were  found  dead  upon  the  spot,  the  numbers  of  wounded  were  unknown. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  but  small ;  30  were  slain,  and  about  40  were  wounded.” 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


381 


♦ 


11.  Dutch  Church  in  Mount  Pleasant,  §c. 

The  famous  Sleepy  Hollow,  the  noted  location  described  in  the 
“  Sketch  Book ”  by  Washington  Irving,  is  situated  in  the  south  part  of 
this  township,  near  Tarrytown ;  it  is  a  long  ravine  of  2  or  3  miles, 
through  which  a  road  passes  on  which  is  situated  several  romantic 
dwellings. 


Ancient  Dutch  church. 


The  above  is  a  northwestern  view  of  the  old  Dutch  Reformed 
church  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  this  town,  about  a  mile  north 
of  the  place  where  Andre  was  taken  in  Tarrytown.  It  is  believed 
to  be  the  oldest  church  now  standing  in  the  state.  A  tablet  placed 
on  the  church  bears  the  inscription,  “Erected  and  built  by  Frederick 
Philips,*  and  Catharine  Van  Cortlandt,  his  wife,  in  1699.”  The  pulpit 
and  communion  table  were  brought  from  Holland  at  the  time  of  the 
erection  of  the  church.  The  building  has  latterly  undergone  some 
repairs  internally  and  externally,  by  which  it  has  lost  considerable 
of  its  venerable  appearance.  Unfortunately,  the  pulpit  has  not  es¬ 
caped  the  hand  of  modern  innovation,  but  the  communion  table 
still  remains  unchanged,  a  venerable  relic  of  a  former  age.  This 
church  and  vicinity  has  been  made  celebrated  by  Irving’s  well-known 
“  Legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow.” 

“  The  sequestered  situation  of  this  church,”  says  the  author  of  this  legend,  “  seem  always 
to  have  made  it  a  favorite  haunt  of  troubled  spirits.  It  stands  on  a  knoll  surrounded  by 
locust  trees  and  lofty  elms,  from  among  which  its  decent  whitewashed  walls  shine  mod- 
estiy  forth  like  Christian  purity  beaming  through  the  shades  of  retirement.  A  gentle  slope 
descends  from  it  to  a  silver  sheet  of  water,  bordered  by  high  trees,  between  which,  peeps 
may  be  caught  at  the  blue  hills  of  the  Hudson.  To  look  upon  its  grass-grown  yard,  where 
the  sunbeams  seem  to  sleep  so  quietly,  one  would  think  that  there  at  least  the  dead  might 
rest  in  peace.  On  one  side  of  the  church  extends  a  wide  woody  dell,  along  which  laves 
a  large  brook  among  broken  rocks  and  trunks  of  fallen  trees.  Over  a  deep  black  part  of 
the  stream,  not  far  from  the  church,  was  formerly  thrown  a  wooden  bridge ;  the  road  tha 
led  to  it  and  the  bridge  itself  were  thickly  shaded  by  overhanging  trees,  which  cast  a  gloom 
about  it  even  in  the  daytime,  but  occasioned  a  fearful  darkness  at  night.” 


382 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


12.  Deception  practised  upon  Sir  James  Yeo. 

“  A  serious  alarm,  attended  by  some  amusing  consequences,  occurred  in  May,  1814, 
when  Sir  James  Yeo,  with  a  fleet  of  thirteen  vessels  of  various  sizes,  appeared  off  the  mouth 
of  the  Genesee,  threatening  the  destruction  of  the  rude  improvements  in  and  around  Ro¬ 
chester.  Messengers  were  despatched  to  arouse  the  people  in  the  surrounding  country  for 
defence  against  the  threatened  attack.  There  were  then  but  thirty-three  people  in  Roches¬ 
ter  capable  of  bearing  arms.  This  little  band  threw  up  a  breastwork  called  Fort  Bender, 
near  the  Deep  Hollow,  beside  the  Lower  Falls,  and  hurried  down  to  the  junction  of  the 
Genesee  and  Lake  Ontario,  five  miles  north  of  the  present  city  limits,  where  the  enemy 
threatened  to  land ;  leaving  behind  them  two  old  men,  with  some  young  lads,  to  remove 
the  women  and  children  into  the  woods,  in  case  the  British  should  attempt  to  land  for  the 
capture  of  the  provisions  and  destruction  of  the  bridge  at  Rochester,  &c.  Francis  Brown 
and  Elisha  Ely  acted  as  captains,  and  Isaac  W.  Stone  as  major  of  the  Rochester  forces, 
which  were  strengthened  by  the  additions  that  could  be  made  from  this  thinly-settled  region. 
Though  the  equipments  and  discipline  of  these  troops  would  not  form  a  brilliant  picture  for 
a  warlike  eye,  their  very  awkwardness  in  those  points,  coupled  as  it  was  with  their  sagacity 
and  courage,  accomplished  more  perhaps  than  could  have  been  effected  by  a  larger  force 
of  regular  troops  bedizzened  with  the  trappings  of  military  pomp.  The  militia  thus  hastily 
collected,  were  marched  and  countermarched,  disappearing  in  the  woods  at  one  point  and 
suddenly  emerging  elsewhere,  so  as  to  impress  the  enemy  with  the  belief  that  the  force 
collected  for  defence  was  far  greater  than  it  actually  was.  (The  circumstances  here  related 
are  substantially  as  mentioned  to  the  writer  by  one  who  was  then  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Rochester.)  An  officer  with  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  from  the  British  fleet.  A  militia 
officer  marched  down,  with  ten  of  the  most  soldierlike  men,  to  receive  him  on  Lighthouse 
Point.  These  militiamen  carried  their  guns  as  nearly  upright  as  might  be  consistent  with 
their  plan  of  being  ready  for  action  by  keeping  hold  of  the  triggers !  The  British  officer 
was  astonished :  he  ‘  looked  unutterable  things.’  *  Sir,’  said  he,  ‘  do  you  receive  a  flag  of 
truce  under  arms,  with  cocked  triggers  ?’  ‘  Excuse  me,  excuse  me,  sir  ;  we  backwoodsmen 

are  not  well  versed  in  military  tactics,’  replied  the  American  officer,  who  promptly  sought 
to  rectify  his  error  by  ordering  his  men  to  ‘  ground  arms  /’  The  Briton  was  still  more  as¬ 
tonished  ;  and,  after  delivering  a  brief  message,  immediately  departed  for  the  fleet,  indicat¬ 
ing  by  his  countenance  a  suspicion  that  the  ignorance  of  tactics  which  he  had  witnessed 
was  all  feigned  for  the  occasion,  so  as  to  deceive  the  British  commodore  into  a  snare  \ 
Shortly  afterward,  on  the  same  day,  another  officer  came  ashore  with  a  flag  of  truce  for 
further  parley,  as  the  British  were  evidently  too  suspicious  of  stratagem  to  attempt  a  hostile 
landing  if  there  was  any  possibility  of  compromising  for  the  spoils.  Capt.  Francis  Brown 
was  deputed  with  a  guard  to  receive  the  last  flag  of  truce.  The  British  officer  looked  sus¬ 
piciously  upon  him  and  upon  his  guard ;  and,  after  some  conversation,  familiarly  grasped 
the  pantaloons  of  Capt.  B.  about  the  knee,  remarking,  as  he  firmly  handled  it,  ‘  Your  cloth 
is  too  good  to  be  spoiled  by  such  a  bungling  tailor  ;’  alluding  to  the  width  and  clumsy  as¬ 
pect  of  that  garment.  Brown  was  quickwitted  as  well  as  resolute,  and  replied  jocosely, 
that  *  he  was  prevented  from  dressing  fashionably  by  his  haste  that  morning  to  salute  such 
distinguished  visiters  !’  The  Briton  obviously  imagined  that  Brown  was  a  regular  officer 
of  the  American  army,  whose  regimentals  were  masked  by  clumsy  overclothes.  The  pro¬ 
position  was  then  made,  that,  if  the  Americans  would  deliver  up  the  provisions  and  military 
stores  which  might  be  in  and  around  Rochester  or  Charlotte,  Sir  .Tames  Yeo  would  spare 
the  settlements  from  destruction.  *  Will  you  comply  with  the  offer  ?’  *  Blood  knee-deep 

first  /’  was  the  emphatic  reply  of  Francis  Brown. 

“  While  this  parley  was  in  progress,  an  American  officer,  with  his  staff,  returning  from  the 
Niagara  frontier,  was  accidentally  seen  passing  from  one  wooded  point  to  another ;  and 
this,  with  other  circumstances,  afforded  to  the  British  ‘  confirmation  strong’  that  their  suspi¬ 
cions  were  well  founded ;  that  there  was  a  considerable  American  army  collected ;  and  that 
the  Yankee  officers  shammed  ignorance  for  the  purpose  of  entrapping  ashore  the  commodore 
and  his  forces  l  The  return  of  the  last  flag  to  the  fleet  was  followed  by  a  vigorous  attack  in 
bombs  and  balls,  while  the  compliment  was  spiritedly  returned,  not  without  some  effect  on 
at  least  one  of  the  vessels,  by  a  rusty  old  six-pounder,  which  had  been  furbished  and  mount 
ed  on  a  log  for  the  important  occasion.  After  a  few  hours  spent  in  this  unavailing  manner, 
Admiral  Yeo  run  down  to  Pulteneyville,  about  twenty  miles  eastward  of  Genesee  river, 
where,  on  learning  how  they  had  been  outwitted  and  deterred  from  landing  by  such  a 
handful  of  militia,  their  mortification  could  scarcely  restrain  all  hands  from  a  hearty  laugh 
at  the  *  Y ankee  trick.’  ’’ 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


383 


1 3.  David  Williams,  captor  of  Andre. 

David  Williams,  the  eldest  and  last  survivor  of  the  captors  of  An¬ 
dre,  was  born  in  Tarry  town,  October  21st,  1754,  and  was  of  Dutch 
descent.  He  died  at  Broome,  Schoharie  Co.,  and  was  buried  with 
military  honors  at  Livingstonville. 

“  In  the  fall  of  1830,  the  corporation  of  the  city  of  Hew  York  sent  an  invitation,  by  a 
special  messenger,  to  Mr.  Williams,  to  be  present  as  a  guest  at  the  celebration  of  the 
French  Revolution.  He  was,  with  Enoch  Crosby,  another  hero  of  ’1 6,  and  two  others, 
drawn  in  an  elegant  carriage  at  the  head  of  the  procession,  attracting  much  attention,  as 
the  writer  well  remembers.  While  in  the  city,  he  visited  with  the  mayor  and  other 
distinguished  citizens,  theatres,  public  schools,  the  navy  yard,  <fcc.,  at  all  of  which  he  was 
a  welcome  guest.  At  one  of  the  schools  a  silver  cup  was  presented  to  him,  and  at  an¬ 
other  a  silver-headed  cane,  the  stem  of  which  was  made  from  a  part  of  a  chevaux-de-frise, 
used  near  W est  Point  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  also  presented  while  on  this  visit  with 
an  elegant  horse,  carriage,  and  harness  by  the  mayor. 

“  Mr.  Williams  returned  from  Hew  York  in  December,  soon  after  which  he  began  rapidly 
to  fail.  The  excitement  attending  his  visit  had  no  doubt  been  too  great  for  one  of  his 

age  and  retired  habits . He  continued  gradually  to  waste  away  until  sunset 

on  Tuesday,  the  2d  day  of  August,  1831,  when  he  expired  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan.” 

14.  Execution  of  a  Deserter  at  Greenbush. 


Remains  of  the  Barracks  at  Greenbush ,  1840. 


The  United  States  cantonment,  now  in  ruins,  was  erected  here 
during  the  late  war,  on  a  commanding  eminence  2  miles  SSE.  of 
Albany.  It  consisted  of  very  extensive  wooden  barracks  for  soldiers, 
officers’  quarters,  &c.,  &c.,  calculated  for  the  accommodation  in 
winter  quarters  of  5,000  men. 

The  annexed  account  of  the  execution  of  a  deserter  at  this  place 
during  the  late  war,  was  written  by  an  officer  of  the  United  States 
army.  It  is  shockingly  minute  in  its  details. 

“  In  1814,  I  was  stationed  with  a  detachment  of  United  States  troops  at  Greenbush,  in 
the  state  of  New  York.  One  morning  several  prisoners,  confined  in  the  provost  guard¬ 
house,  were  brought  out  to  hear  the  sentence  which  a  court-martial  had  annexed  to  their 
delinquencies  read  on  parade.  Their  appearance  indicated  that  their  lot  had  already  been 
sufficiently  hard.  Some  wore  marks  of  long  confinement,  and  on  all,  the  severity  of  the 
prison-house  had  enstamped  its  impression.  They  looked  dejected  at  this  public  exposure, 
and  anxious  to  learn  their  fate.  I  had  never  seen  the  face  of  any  of  them  before,  and  only 
knew  that  a  single  one  of  them  had  been  adjudged  to  death.  Soon  as  their  names  were 
called  and  their  sentences  announced,  I  discerned  by  his  agony  and  gestures  the  miserable 


384 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


man  on  whom  that  sentence  was  to  fall ;  a  man  in  the  bloom  of  youth  and  the  fulness  of 
health  and  vigor. 

“  Prompted  by  feelings  of  sympathy,  I  called  next  morning  to  see  him  in  prison.  There, 
chained  by  the  leg  to  the  beam  of  the  guard-house,  he  was  reading  the  bible,  trying  to  pre¬ 
pare  himself,  as  he  said,  for  the  fatal  hour.  I  learned  from  him  the  circumstances  of  his 
case.  He  was  the  father  of  a  family ;  having  a  wife  and  three  young  children,  thirty  or 
forty  miles  distant  from  the  camp.  His  crime  was  desertion,  of  which  he  had  been  three 
times  guilty.  His  only  object  in  leaving  the  camp,  in  the  last  instance,  was  to  visit  his  wife 
and  children.  Having  seen  that  all  was  well  with  them,  it  was  his  intention  to  return.  But 
whatever  was  his  intention,  he  was  a  deserter,  and  as  such  taken  and  brought  into  the 
camp ;  manacled,  and  under  the  guard  of  his  fellow-soldiers.  The  time  between  the  sen¬ 
tence  and  its  execution  was  brief ;  the  authority  in  whom  alone  was  vested  the  power  of 
reprieve  or  pardon,  distant.  Thus  he  had  no  hope,  and  only  requested  the  attendance  of  a 
minister  of  the  gospel,  and  permission  to  see  his  wife  and  children.  The  first  part  of  his 
request  was  granted,  but  whether  he  was  permitted  or  not  to  see  his  family,  I  do  not  now 
remember. 

“  Dreading  the  hour  of  his  execution,  I  resolved,  if  possible,  to  avoid  being  present  at  the 

scene.  But  the  commander  of  the  post,  Col.  L - ,  sent  me  an  express  order  to  attend, 

that  agreeably  to  the  usages  of  the  army  I  might,  in  my  official  capacity  of  surgeon,  see 
the  sentence  fully  executed. 

“  The  poor  fellow  was  taken  from  the  guard-house  to  be  escorted  to  the  fatal  spot.  Be¬ 
fore  him  was  his  coffin ;  a  box  of  rough  pine  boards — borne  on  the  shoulders  of  two  men. 
The  prisoner  stood  with  his  arms  pinioned,  between  two  clergymen ;  a  white  cotton  gown, 
or  winding-sheet,  reached  to  his  feet.  It  was  trimmed  with  black,  and  had  attached  to  it 
over  the  place  of  the  real  heart,  the  black  image  of  a  heart ;  the  mark  at  which  the  execu¬ 
tioners  were  to  aim.  On  his  head  was  a  cap  of  white,  also  trimmed  with  black.  His  coun¬ 
tenance  was  blanched'to  the  hue  of  his  winding-sheet,  and  his  frame  trembled  with  agony. 
He  seemed  resolved,  however,  to  suffer  like  a  soldier.  Behind  him  were  a  number  of  prison¬ 
ers,  confined  for  various  offences ;  next  to  them  was  a  strong  guard  of  soldiers,  with  fixed 
bayonets  and  loaded  muskets.  My  station  was  in  the  rear  of  the  whole. 

“  Our  procession  thus  formed,  and  with  much  feeling  and  in  low  voices  on  the  part  of  the 
officers,  we  moved  forward  with  slow  and  measured  steps  to  the  tune  of  the  death  march, 
(Roslin  Castle,)  played  with  muffled  drums  and  mourning  fifes.  The  scene  was  solemn 
beyond  the  powers  of  description.  A  man  in  the  vigor  of  life  walking  to  his  grave  ;  to  the 
tune  of  his  own  death-march,  clothed  in  his  burial  robes,  surrounded  by  friends  assembled 
to  perform  the  last  sad  offices  of  affection,  and  to  weep  over  him  in  the  last  sad  hour :  no, 
not  by  these,  but  by  soldiers  with  bristling  bayonets  and  loaded  muskets,  urged  by  stern 
command  to  do  the  violence  of  death  to  a  fellow-soldier;  as  he  surveys  the  multitude,  he 
beholds  no  look  of  tenderness,  no  tear  of  sensibility;  he  hears  no  plaint  of  grief;  all,  all  is 
stern  as  the  iron  rigor  of  the  law  which  decrees  his  death. 

“  .  .  .  .  Amid  reflections  like  these,  we  arrived  at  the  place  of  execution,  a  large  open 
field,  in  whose  centre  a  heap  of  earth,  freshly  thrown  up,  marked  the  spot  of  the  deserter’s 
grave.  On  this  field  the  whole  force  then  at  the  cantonment,  amounting  to  many  hundred 
men,  was  drawn  up  in  the  form  of  a  hollow  square,  with  the  side  beyond  the  grave  vacant. 
The  executioners,  eight  in  number,  had  been  drawn  by  lot.  No  soldier  would  volunteer 
for  such  a  duty.  Their  muskets  had  been  charged  by  the  officer  of  the  day ;  seven  of  them 
with  ball,  the  eighth  with  powder  alone.  Thus  prepared  they  were  placed  together,  and 
each  executioner  takes  his  choice.  Thus  each  may  believe  that  he  has  the  blank  cartridge, 
and  therefore  has  no  hand  in  the  death  of  his  brother  soldier ;  striking  indications  of  the 
nature  of  the  service. 

“  The  coffin  was  placed  parallel  with  the  grave,  and  about  two  feet  distant.  In  the 
intervening  space  the  prisoner  was  directed  to  stand.  He  desired  permission  to  say  a  word 
to  his  fellow-soldiers ;  and  thus  standing  between  his  coffin  and  his  grave,  warned  them 
against  desertion,  continuing  to  speak  until  the  officer  on  duty,  with  his  watch  in  his  hand, 
announced  to  him  in  a  low  voice,  *  Two  o’clock,  your  last  moment  is  at  hand  ;  you  must 
kneel  upon  your  coffin.’  This  done,  the  officer  drew  down  the  white  cap,  so  as  to  cover 
the  eyes  and  most  of  the  face  of  the  prisoner — still  continuing  to  speak  in  a  hurried,  loud, 
and  agitated  voice.  The  kneeling  was  the  signal  for  the  executioners  to  advance.  They 
had  before,  to  avoid  being  distinguished  by  the  prisoner,  stood  intermingled  with  the  soldiers 
who  formed  the  line.  They  now  came  forward,  marching  abreast,  and  took  their  stand  a 
little  to  the  left,  about  two  rods  distant  from  their  living  mark.  The  officer  raised  his 
sword.  At  this  signal,  the  executioners  took  aim.  He  then  gave  a  blow  on  a  drum  which 
was  at  hand ;  the  executioners  all  fired  at  the  same  instant.  The  miserable  man,  with  a 
horrid  scream,  leaped  from  the  earth,  and  fell  between  bis  coffin  and  his  grave.  The  ser- 


HISTOKICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


385 


geant  of  the  guard,  a  moment  after,  shot  him  through  the  head  with  a  musket  reserved  'or 
this  purpose  in  case  the  executioners  failed  to  produce  instant  death.  The  sergeant,  .ran 
motives  of  humanity,  held  the  muzzle  of  his  musket  near  the  head  ;  so  near  that  the  cap 
took  fire ;  and  there  the  body  lay  upon  the  face  ;  the  head  emitting  the  mingled  fumes  of 
burning  cotton  and  burning  hair.  O  war,  dreadful  even  in  thy  tenderness ;  horrible  even 
in  thy  compassion ! 

“  I  was  desired  to  perfonn  my  part  of  the  ceremony ;  and  placing  my  hand  where  just 
before  the  pulse  beat  full,  and  the  life  flowed  warm,  and  finding  no  symptom  of  either,  I 
affirmed,  he  is  dead.  The  line  then  marched  by  the  body,  as  it  lay  upon  the  earth,  the 
head  still  smoking ;  that  every  man  might  behold  for  himself  the  fate  of  a  deserter. 

“  Thus  far,  all  had  been  dreadful  indeed,  but  solemn,  as  it  became  the  sending  of  a  spirit 
to  its  dread  account ;  but  now  the  scene  changes.  The  whole  band  struck  up,  and  with 
uncommon  animation,  our  national  air,  (Yankee  Doodle,)  and  to  its  lively  measures  we 
were  hurried  back  to  our  parade  ground.  Having  been  dismissed,  the  commander  of  the 
post  sent  an  invitation  to  all  the  officers  to  meet  at  his  quarters,  whither  we  repaired,  and 
were  treated  to  a  glass  of  gin  and  water.  Thus  this  melancholy  tragedy  ended  in  what 
seemed  little  better  than  a  farce;  a  fair  specimen,  the  former  of  the  dread  severity — the 
latter  of  the  moral  sensibilities  which  prevail  in  the  camp.” 


15.  Blowing  up  of  the  steam-frigate  Fulton. 

The  following  account  of  the  blowing  up  of  the  steam-frigate  Ful¬ 
ton  at  the  navy-yard  in  this  place,  June  4th,  1829,  Was  written  on 
the  morning  after  the  explosion : 

“  The  Fulton  has  ever  since  the  war  been  occupied  as  a  receiving  ship,  and  was  moored 
within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  shore.  The  magazine  was  in  the  bow  of  the  ship,  and 
contained  at  the  time  of  the  explosion  but  three  barrels  of  damaged  powder.  The  explo. 
sion  was  not  louder  than  that  produced  by  the  discharge  of  a  single  cannon ;  and  many 
persons  in  the  navy.yard  supposed  the  report  to  have  proceeded  from  such  a  source,  until 
they  saw  the  immense  column  of  smoke  arising  from  the  vessel.  Others  about  the  yard 
saw  the  masts  rising  into  the  air  before  the  explosion,  and  immediately  after,  the  air  was 
filled  with  fragments  of  the  vessel.  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  a  midshipman  who 
was,  at  the  time  of  the  accident,  asleep  on  board  of  the  frigate  United  States,  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  the  Fulton,  was  not  at  all  disturbed  by  the  report  of  the  explosion,  and 
was  not  aware  of  the  occurrence,  until  he  was  told  of  it  after  he  awoke. 

“  The  Fulton  is  a  complete  wreck  ;  the  bow  being  destroyed  nearly  to  the  water,  and  the 
whole  of  this  immense  vessel,  whose  sides  were  more  than  four  feet  thick,  and  all  other 
parts  of  corresponding  strength — is  now  lying  an  entire  heap  of  ruins,  burst  asunder  in  all 
parts,  and  aground  at  the  spot  where  she  was  moored.  Although  she  was  but  200  yards 
from  the  navy-yard,  and  many  vessels  near  her,  not  one  of  them  received  the  least  dam¬ 
age  ;  nor  was  the  bridge  which  led  from  the  shore  to  the  Fulton  at  all  injured.  The  sen. 
tinel  upon  the  bridge  received  no  wound  whatever,  and  continued  to  perform  his  duty  after 
the  accident,  as  unconcerned  as  though  nothing  had  happened.  The  sentinel  on  board  the 
ship  was  less  fortunate,  and  escaped  with  merely  (a  light  accident  on  such  occasions)  a 
broken  leg.  There  were  attached  to  the  Fulton,  by  the  roll  of  the  ship,  143  persons ;  and, 
at  the  time  of  the  explosion,  there  were  supposed  to  have  been  on  board  the  vessel  about 
sixty  persons. 

“  It  happened  fortunately  that  sixty-two  men,  formerly  attached  to  the  frigate,  were  drafted 
on  Tuesday,  and  had  proceeded  to  Norfolk  to  form  part  of  the  crew  of  the  frigate  Constel¬ 
lation,  then  on  the  eve  of  departure  for  a  foreign  station.  The  band,  17  in  number,  were 
on  shore.  This  dreadful  accident  was  occasioned  by  the  gunner’s  going  into  the  magazine 
to  procure  powder  to  fire  the  evening  gun.  He  was  charged  by  one  of  the  officers  pre¬ 
viously  to  his  going  below,  to  be  careful ;  and  soon  after,  the  explosion  took  place.  We  un¬ 
derstand  that  he  was  a  man  between  fifty  and  sixty  years  of  age,  and  had  just  been  ap¬ 
pointed  to  that  office ;  the  old  gunner  having  been  discharged  the  day  before.  He  was  de¬ 
sired  by  Lieutenant  Breckenridge  to  be  cautious  with  the  light,  and  to  place  it  in  the  loca. 
tion  invariably  provided  for  it,  on  such  occasions,  viz.  behind  a  reflecting  glass  in  the  parti 

49 


386 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


Son,  through  which  the  rays  of  light  are  thrown.  It  is  supposed  he  had  been  careless  in 
this  particular,  and  that  having  carried  the  candle  into  the  magazine,  some  of  .ts  3parka 
were  communicated  to  the  powder :  but  as  he  is  among  the  dead,  nothing  certain  on  this 
point  can  ever  be  known.  Lieutenant  Mull  states,  that  the  necessary  precautions  had  been 
taken  for  opening  the  magazine,  and  a  sentinel  placed  at  the  hatch  before  he  left  the  deck, 
and  that  after  being  in  the  ward  room  some  twenty  minutes  the  explosion  took  place. 

“  At  the  time  of  the  explosion,  the  officers  were  dining  in  the  ward  room.  The  lady  of 
Lieutenant  Breckenridge,  and  the  son  of  Lieutenant  Platt,  a  lad  about  nine  years  old,  were 
guests,  and  one  account  says  both  were  slightly  wounded.  Another  account  says,  Lieuten¬ 
ant  Mull,  who  was  sitting  next  to  the  son  of  Lieutenant  Platt,  with  great  presence  of  mind, 
caught  hold  of  him  and  placed  him  in  one  of  the  port-holes,  by  which  means  he  escaped 
uninjured.  Lieutenant  Platt  had  returned  only  yesterday  morning,  having  been  absent  one 
month  on  leave.  Commodore  Chauncey,  with  the  commander  of  the  frigate,  Captain  IN  ew. 
ton,  left  her  only  a  few  minutes  before  the  explosion — the  former  having  been  on  board  on 
a  visit  of  inspection. 

“  The  escape  of  Midshipman  Eckford  seems  to  have  been  almost  miraculous.  When 
Commodore  Chauncey  (who  was  one  of  the  first  to  reach  the  vessel)  got  on  board,  the  first 
object  he  saw  was  young  Eckford  hanging  by  one  of  his  legs  between  the  gun-deck,  whither 
he  had  been  forced  by  the  explosion.  A  jack-screw  was  immediately  procured,  by  means 
of  which  the  deck  was  raised  and  he  was  extricated  from  his  perilous  situation. 

“  The  room  in  which  the  officers  were  dining  was  situated  about  midships.  The  whole 
company  at  the  table  were  forced,  by  the  concussion,  against  the  transom  with  such  violence 
as  to  break  their  limbs,  and  otherwise  cut  and  bruise  them  in  a  shocking  manner. 

“  The  magazine  was  situated  in  the  bows  of  the  vessel.  This  part  of  the  ship,  as  may 
well  be  imagined,  is  completely  demolished.  Indeed  the  ship  remains  as  complete  a  wreck 
as  probably  was  ever  beheld.  The  timbers  throughout  appear  to  have  been  perfectly  rotten. 
Many  of  the  guns  were  thrown  overboard,  and  some  of  them  (of  large  dimensions)  hung 
as  it  were  by  a  hair. 

“  The  bodies  of  the  dead  and  wounded  were  brought  on  shore  as  soon  as  circumstances 
would  permit.  The  former,  after  being  recognised,  were  put  into  coffins.  The  latter  were 
carried  to  the  hospital  of  the  navy-yard  and  every  attention  paid  to  them.  The  bodies  of 
the  dead  were  shockingly  mangled  ;  their  features  distorted,  and  so  much  blackened,  that 
it  was  difficult  to  recognise  them. 

“  Commodore  Chauncey  and  the  officers  of  the  station  were  on  board  the  wreck,  after 
the  explosion,  giving  directions  to  remove  the  scattered  timber,  in  order  that  a  search  might 
take  place  for  such  bodies  as  might  be  buried  in  the  ruins.  The  tide  being  at  the  ebb,  im¬ 
mense  quantities  of  the  fragments  of  the  ship  floated  down  in  front  of  the  city,  and  hun¬ 
dreds  of  small  boats  were  seen  busily  engaged  in  securing  them. 

“  What  is  a  very  remarkable  circumstance,  although  several  of  the  persons  at  dinner  in 
the  ward  room  escaped  with  their  lives,  and  some  of  them  uninjured,  not  a  vestige  of  the 
table,  chairs,  or  any  of  the  furniture  in  the  room  remains.  Every  thing  was  blown  to  atoms. 

“  The  Fulton  was  built  with  two  keels,  or  rather  was  in  fact  two 
boats,  joined  together  by  the  upper  works.  The  sides  were  of  im¬ 
mense  thickness,  and  the  whole  frame  was,  when  built,  probably  the 
strongest  of  the  kind  ever  constructed.  But  the  timbers  had  now  be¬ 
come  very  rotten,  and  the  whole  hulk  was,  as  it  were,  kept  together 
by  its  own  weight.  It  is  supposed  that  the  rotten  state  of  the  vessel, 
making  her  timbers  give  way  easily,  rendered  the  destruction  greater 
than  if  she  had  been  new  and  sound. 

“  Midshipman  Eckford  was  standing  in  the  starboard  gangway,  and 
was  strangely  tumbled  to  the  inside,  instead  of  being  blown  out  upon 
the  platform.  He  was  then  caught  under  one  of  the  beams,  where 
he  hung  fast  by  one  leg. 

“  While  he  hung  in  this  painful  condition,  not  a  groan,  nor  a  com¬ 
plaint,  nor  a  word  of  supplication  escaped  him.  His  cheek  was  un¬ 
blanched,  and  his  features  composed,  while  he  held  on  to  the  beam 
with  his  arms  to  keep  his  head  up. 

“  Attempts  were  made  to  raise  the  beam,  but  there  was  such  a  mass 
of  materials  above,  that  no  muscular  force  could  move  it.  In  this 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


387 


emergency,  Commodore  Chauncey,  witn  great  promptness,  orderea 
the  jack-screw  to  be  brought  from  the  shore.  This  took  time,  and  it 
was  not  then  the  work  of  a  moment  to  apply  it,  and  bring  it  into  ac¬ 
tion.  An  hour  went  by,  ere  the  youth  was  extricated  ;  and  yet  not  a 
single  murmur  of  impatience  was  heard  from  his  lips.  His  only 
words  were  in  direction  or  encouragement  to  those  who  were  aiding 
him — exclaiming  from  time  to  time,  ‘  Hurra  my  hearties !’  ‘  There  it 
moves  /’  His  only  reproof  was  to  the  sailor,  who,  when  the  beam 
was  raised,  attempted,  rather  rudely,  to  withdraw  the  fractured  limb. 
The  sailor  supported  him  whilst  he  performed  the  office  himself. 

“  The  whole  number  of  killed  was  thirty-three,  including  Lieuten¬ 
ant  Breckenridge  and  the  three  women.  Twenty-nine  were  reported 
as  wounded,  but  there  were  many  more  who  were  slightly  injured. 
Nearly  every  person  on  board  receivedkat  least  a  scratch. 

“  The  greatest  part  of  the  mischief  was  done  by  the  force  of  the 
fragments  and  splinters.  These  were  driven  into  every  part  of  the 
ship.  Captain  Newton,  who  commanded  the  ship,  employed  all  the 
force  he  could  spare,  to  clear  the  wreck,  and  find  the  bodies  of  the 
unfortunate  sufferers.  Twenty-four  were  taken  out  of  the  ruins  at 
the  time,  but  some  of  the  others  were  not  found  till  a  considerable 
•  time  after.  One  was  found  horribly  mutilated,  and  drifted  ashore  on 
Staten  Island.  Another  got  fastened  to  a  beam,  and  was  picked  up. 
Two  were  picked  out  of  the  water  near  the  wreck.” 


16.  Murder  of  R.  Barber  in  Chittenango. 

The  murder  of  Robert  Barber,  by  Lewis  Wilber,  on  the  line  of  the 
Erie  canal  in  this  town,  August  30th,  1837,  caused  a  great  sensation 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  Robert  Barber  was  from  Coleraine,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  man  of  respectability, 
and  in  easy  circumstances.  He  was  a  widower  of  upwards  of  fifty 
years  of  age,  and  had  children  and  numerous  respectable  relatives  in 
Coleraine.  He  left  home  on  the  28th  of  August,  for  the  purpose  of 
marrying  a  lady  residing  at  Onondaga,  N.  Y.  On  his  journey  to 
Utica  he  became  acquainted  with  Wilber,  who  was  about  21  years 
of  age,  a  native  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  This  person  was  of  a  low  and 
vicious  character,  and  in  the  habit  of  thieving  from  his  childhood. 
The  following  account  of  the  murder  is  from  a  pamphlet  published  in 
Morris ville  in  1839. 

“  At  Utica,  Wilber  first  entertained  the  thought  of  murdering  the  old  man.  For  that 
object,  or  any  similar  one,  he  purchased  a  common  shoe-knife,  as  he  said, — but  such  a  one 
as  is  often  called  a  bread-knife,  with  a  sharp  point  and  a  turned  wooden  handle  ;  it  cost  eigh. 
teen  pence.  This  he  wrapped  in  a  paper,  and  carried  it  in  a  pocket  in  the  skirt  of  his  coat. 

“  Sometime  towards  evening  of  the  same  day,  (the  29th,)  they  both  took  a  line  boat  to 
go  west,  of  which  Edwin  H.  Mupger  was  captain ;  the  name  of  the  boat  he  could  not  re 


388 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


collect.  Night  coming  on,  they  lodged  together  in  the  same  berth.  Little  of  interest  oc. 
curred  during  the  passage  until  morning,  when  they  arrived  very  early  at  Burr’s  Tavern, 
on  the  canal,  in  Sullivan,  about  three  miles  east  of  the  Chittenango  Landing.  There,  the 
boat  having  stopped,  Wilber  and  his  companion  (for  they  had  by  this  time  become  consid¬ 
erably  acquainted,  and  the  old  gentleman  familiar  with  him)  stepped  off  from  the  boat, 
went  into  the  house,  and  drank  something  at  the  bar  that  they  called  for,  which  was  handed 
to  them  by  a  woman. 

“  They  then  walked  along  the  towpath  to  Lee’s  Bridge  (so  called,)  about  eighty  rods 
west,  and  had  some  conversation  about  going  on  foot  to  Chittenango  Landing ;  and  at  the 
suggestion  of  Wilber,  they  crossed  over  Lee’s  Bridge,  and  took  a  westerly  direction  in  the 
highway  leading  to  Chittenango  Landing.  They  passed  the  crotch  of  the  road  that  leads 
off  towards  Canesaraga,  and  turning  west,  went  on  beyond  all  the  houses  and  buildings. 
When  they  reached  the  last  open  field  on  the  right,  before  entering  the  woods,  Wilber  in. 
formed  the  old  gentleman  that  it  would  lessen  the  distance  to  turn  to  the  right  from  the 
road,  and  cross  the  woods  in  that  direction.  They  accordingly  got  over  the  fence,  and 
walked  in  the  direction  of  the  woods,  which  they  soon  ftached  and  entered.  In  the  direc¬ 
tion  they  were  travelling  at  the  time,  the  woods,  where  they  entered  them,  were  about 
sixty  rods  from  the  highway,  and  the  distance  through  the  woods  to  the  canal  (towards 
which  they  were  going  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees  to  the  general  course  of  the 
canal,)  must  be  not  far  from  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

“  When  they  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  body  of  the  old  gentleman  was  subsequently 
"ound,  (eighteen  or  twenty  rods  distant  from  the  canal,)  Wilber  said  he  took  from  his 
pocket  the  knife  before  described,  and  a  pistol  that  he  carried,  which  at  the  time  was  not 
charged — and  presenting  the  pistol  to  the  old  gentleman,  demanded  of  him  his  money,  at 
the  same  time  showing  him  the  knife.  Here  he  said  he  became  much  agitated,  and  appa¬ 
rently  more  so  than  the  old  gentleman.  The  latter  deliberately  took  his  pocket-book  from 
a  side-pocket  in  his  coat,  and  a  purse  from  his  pantaloons  pocket — saying  at  the  same  time, 
‘  I  did  not  think  that  of  you — I  thought  you  was  my  friend.’  Wilber  then  told  him  to  throw 
down  the  pocket-book  and  purse,  which  he  did.  *  I  was  afraid  to  take  them  up,’  said  he, 
‘  and  told  him  to  lie  down  and  hide  his  face,  and  not  look  up  for  half  an  hour.’  He  then 
laid  down  in  the  same  position  in  which  he  lay  when  found,  according  to  the  testimony  of 
the  witnesses.  Here  Wilber  resolved  to  take  the  money  and  leave  him.  He  took  the 
pocket-book  and  purse,  and  secured  them.  Then,  standing  by  the  right  side  of  the  old 
gentleman,  who  lay  on  his  face,  with  his  right  hand  under  his  eyes  and  his  hat  on  his  head, 
a  second  thought  warned  Wilber  of  the  danger  of  detection  if  the  old  gentleman  should 
live  ;  and  throwing  up  the  skirt  of  his  coat,  with  a  back-handed  stroke  he  plunged  the  knife 
into  his  body,  near  the  back-bone  and  below  the  ribs.  This  he  repeated  several  times. 
He  said  that  from  the  time  he  struck  the  first  blow  with  the  knife,  no  signs  of  life  appeared. 
Indeed,  he  never  moved  from  the  original  position  in  which  he  laid  down. 

“  But  this  seemed  not  enough.  He  then  stepped  a  few  paces  to  the  west,  and  thinking 
that  by  possibility  his  victim  might  survive,  he  picked  up  a  large  stone,  and  approaching 
him  as  he  lay,  threw  it  at  him,  and  it  struck  his  head.  This  he  thought  made  the  fracture 
in  the  skull  above  the  left  ear,  on  the  back  of  the  head,  which  appeared  when  the  body 
was  found,  and  also  a  similar  corresponding  hole  in  the  hat. 

“  In  describing  this  scene — which  he  did  with  a  great  deal  of  accuracy  and  minuteness — 
his  feelings  frequently  overcame  his  utterance,  and  the  burden  of  his  thoughts  choked  him 
to  silence.  He  would  pause,  and  groan  and  weep ;  and  when  he  spoke  again,  it  would  be 
by  exclamations  and  ejaculations,  accompanied  by  the  most  frightful  writhings,  manifesting 
the  greatest  mental  suffering.  He  declared  that  if  the  old  gentleman  had  made  the  least 
resistance  or  noise,  he  should  have  fled,  and  left  him  untouched.” 

Wilber  after  the  murder  proceeded  on  to  Buffalo,  and  from  thence 
to  Cleaveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  arrested  in  April,  1838.  After 
Mr.  Barber  was  missed  by  the  captain  of  the  boat,  from  which  he 
went  with  Wilber,  his  trunk  was  kept  on  board  through  to  Buffalo 
and  back  again  to  Albany,  where  he  saw  a  notice  respecting  the  dis¬ 
appearance  of  Mr.  B.  His  suspicions  now  rested  on  Wilber  as  his 
murderer.  Search  was  made  far  and  near  on  the  north  side  of  the 
canal ;  this  was  in  October,  and  the  winter  passed  away  without  any 
discovery.  In  March,  1838,  the  body  was  accidentally  discovered, 
which  immediately  led  to  the  apprehension  of  Wilber.  He  was  ex¬ 
ecuted  at  Morrisville,  October  3d,  1839. 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


389 


17.  Capture  of  the  Spanish  Schooner  Amistad. 

In  the  year  1839  quite  a  sensation  was  created  on  account  of  the 
visit  and  capture  of  a  company  of  African  slaves,  within  five  or  six 
miles  of  the  light-house  on  Montauk  Point,  the  eastern  extremity  of 
Long  Island.  They  were  taken  by  Capt.  Gedney  of  the  U.  S.  Sur¬ 
veying  brig  Washington,  and  carried  into  New  London.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  particulars  were  written  by  one  of  the  officers  of  the  brig  : 

New  London,  .August  26,  1839. 

“WTiilethis  vessel  was  sounding  this  day  between  Gardiner’s  and  Montauk  Points,  a 
schooner  was  seen  lying  in-shore  off  Culloden  Point,  under  circumstances  so  suspicious  as  to 
authorize  Lieutenant-commandant  Gedney  to  stand  in  to  see  what  was  her  character :  seeing 
a  number  of  people  on  the  beach  with  carts  and  horses,  and  a  boat  passing  to  and  fro,  a  boat 
was  armed  and  despatched  with  an  officer  to  board  her.  On  coming  alongside,  a  number  of 
negroes  were  discovered  on  her  deck,  and  twenty  or  thirty  more  were  on  the  beach — two 
white  men  came  forward  and  claimed  the  protection  of  the  officer.  The  schooner  proved  to 
be  the  ‘  Amistad,’  Captain  Ramonllues,  from  the  Havanna,  bound  to  Guanajah,  Port  Princi¬ 
pe,  with  54  blacks  ana  two  passengers  on  board ;  the  former,  four  nights  after  they  were  out, 
rose  and  murdered  the  captain  ana  three  of  the  crew — they  then  took  possession  of  the  vessel, 
with  the  intention  of  returning  to  the  coast  of  Africa.  Pedro  Montez,  passenger,  and  Jose 
Ruiz,  owner  of  the  slaves  and  a  part  of  the  cargo,  were  only  saved  to  navigate  the  vessel. 
After  boxing  about  for  four  days  in  the  Bahama  channel,  the  vessel  was  steered  for  the  Island 
of  St.  Andrews,  near  New  Providence — from  thence  she  went  to  Green  Key,  where  the  blacks 
laid  in  a  supply  of  water.  After  leaving  this  place  the  vessel  was  steered  by  Pedro  Montez 
for  New  Providence,  the  negroes  being  under  the  impression  that  she  was  steering  for  the 
coast  of  Africa — they  would  not  however  permit  her  to  enter  the  port,  but  anchored  every 
night  off  the  coast.  The  situation  of  the  two  whites  was  all  this  time  truly  deplorable,  being 
treated  with  the  greatest  severity,  and  Pedro  Montez,  who  had  charge  of  the  navigation,  was 
suffering  from  two  severe  wounds,  one  on  the  head  and  one  on  the  arm,  their  lives  being 
threatened  every  instant.  He  was  ordered  to  change  the  course  again  for  the  coast  of  Africa, 
the  negroes  themselves  steering  by  the  sun  in  the  daytime,  while  at  night  he  would  alter  their 
course  so  as  to  bring  them  back  to  their  original  place  of  destination.  They  remained  three 
days  off  Long  Island,  to  the  eastward  of  Providence,  after  which  time  they  were  two  months 
on  the  ocean,  sometimes  steering  to  the  eastward,  and  whenever  an  occasion  would  permit, 
the  whites  would  alter  the  course  to  the  northward  and  westward,  always  in  hopes  of  falling 
in  with  some  vessel  of  war,  or  being  enabled  to  run  into  some  port,  when  they  would  be  re¬ 
lieved  from  their  horrid  situation. 

“  Several  times  they  were  boarded  by  vessels  ;  once  by  an  American  schooner  from 
Kingston ;  on  these  occasions  the  whites  were  ordered  below,  while  the  negroes  commu¬ 
nicated  and  traded  with  the  vessels ;  the  schooner  from  Kingston  supplied  them  with  a  de¬ 
mijohn  of  water  for  the  moderate  sum  of  one  doubloon — this  schooner,  whose  name  was  not 
ascertained,  finding  that  the  negroes  had  plenty  of  money,  remained  lashed  alongside  the 
‘  Amistad’  for  twenty-four  hours,  though  they  i  must  have  been  aware  that  all  was  not  right 
on  board,  and  probably  suspected  the  character  of  the  vessel— this  was  on  the  eighteenth 
of  the  present  month ;  the  vessel  was  steered  to  the  northward  and  westward,  and  on  the 
20th  instant,  distant  from  New  York  25  miles,  the  pilot-boat  No.  3  came  alongside  and 
gave  the  negroes  some  apples.  She  was  also  hailed  by  No.  4 ;  when  the  latter  boat  came 
near,  the  negroes  armed  themselves  and  would  not  permit  her  to  board  them  ;  they  were 
so  exasperated  with  the  two  whites  for  bringing  them  so  much  out  of  their  way,  that  they 
expected  every  moment  to  be  murdered.  On  the  24th  they  made  Montauk  light,  and 
steered  for  it  in  the  hope  of(running  the  vessel  ashore,  but  the  tide  drifted  them  up  the  bay, 
and  they  anchored  where  they  were  found  by  the  brig  Washington,  off  Culloden  point. 
The  negroes  were  found  in  communication  with  the  shore,  where  they  laid  in  a  fresh  supply 
of  water,  and  were  on  the  point  of  sailing  again  for  the  coast  of  Africa.  They  had  a  good 
supply  of  money,  some  of  which  it  is  likely  was  taken  by  the  people  on  the  beach.  After 
disarming  and  sending  them  on  board  from  the  beach,  the  leader  jumped  overboard  with 
three  hundred  doubloons  about  him,  the  property  of  the  captain,  all  of  which  he  succeeded 
in  losing  from  his  person,  and  then  submitted  himself  to  be  captured.  The  schooner  was 
taken  in  tow  by  the  brig  and  carried  into  New  London.” 

The  Africans  were  afterward  taken  to  New  Haven ;  and  an  inves¬ 
tigation  was  had  before  the  United  States  court  at  Hartford.  In 
January,  1840,  their  case  was  tried  before  the  United  States  district 


390 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


court.  Judge  Judson  decided  that  they  should  be  delivered  up  to 
the  President  of  the  United  States  to  be  sent  back  to  Africa.  The 
United  States  attorney  having  appealed  from  this  decision,  the  case 
was  referred  to  the  Supreme  Court,  at  Washington,  which  set  in 
January,  1841.  This  court  declared  the  freedom  of  the  Africans.  A 
number  of  persons  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  where  the  captives  were 
kept,  interested  themselves  in  their  welfare,  and  gave  them  religious 
and  other  instruction,  and  soon  after  they  were  sent  back  to  Mendi, 
their  native  country,  where  a  promising  mission  is  now  established. 

18.  Rachel  Baker,  the  Somnambulist. 

• 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  case  on  record  of  devotional  somni- 
um,  so  called,  is  that  of  Miss  Rachel  Baker  of  this  town.  A  full  his¬ 
tory  of  her  case  may  be  found  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Physico- 
Medical  Society  of  New  York,  vol.  I.  p.  395.  Rachel  Baker  was 
born  at  Pelham,  Massachusetts,  May  29,  1794.  Her  parents  were 
pious  persons,  and  early  taught  her  the  importance  of  religion.  From 
childhood  she  appeared  to  possess  a  contemplative  disposition;  but 
her  mind  was  not  vigorous,  nor  was  she  much  disposed  to  improve 
it  by  reading.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  she  removed  with  her  pa¬ 
rents  to  the  town  of  Marcellus  in  the  state  of  New  York.  From 
that  time  she  said  “  she  had  frequently  strong  convictions  of  the  im¬ 
portance  of  eternal  things,  and  the  thoughts  of  God  and  eternity 
would  make  her  tremble.” — In  June,  1811,  while  on  a  visit  to  the 
town  of  Scipio,  she  was  deeply  affected  in  witnessing  the  baptism  of 
a  young  lady,  and  from  that  period  was  impressed  with  a  stronger 
conviction  of  her  own  sinfulness,  On  her  return  to  Marcellus,  she 
endeavored  to  suppress  her  religious  anxiety,  but  in  vain  ;  her  anguish 
of  mind  was  fully  depicted  in  her  countenance. 

On  the  evening  of  the  28th  of  November,  while  she  was  sitting  in 
a  chair,  apparently  asleep,  she  began  to  sigh  and  groan  as  if  in  ex¬ 
cessive  pain.  She  had  said  a  sho/t  time  before  that  she  would  live 
only  a  little  while,  and  as  she  now  repeated  the  expression,  her  parents 
were  apprehensive  that  she  was  dying.  This  evening  she  talked 
incoherently  ;  but  manifested  in  what  she  said  much  religious  concern. 
She  continued  almost  every  night  talking  in  her  sleep  till  the  27  Jan., 
1812.  On  that  evening,  soon  after  she  had  fallen  asleep,  she  was 
seized  with  a  fit  of  trembling,  shrieked  aloud  and  awoke  in  great 
terror.  Horror  and  despondency  overwhelmed  her  with  the  dread 
of  a  miserable  eternity,  and  of  her  speedy  and  inevitable  doom.  But 
these  agonizing  feelings  were  soon  succeeded  by  a  calm ;  her  mind 
became  tranquil,  and  in  her  nightly  devotions,  which  were  now  regu¬ 
lar  and  coherent,  she  poured  forth  a  spirit  of  meekness,  gratitude,  and 
love.  From  this  time  the  whole  tenor  of  her  soul  seemed  to  be 
changed.  She  was  incapable  of  expressing  her  sentiments  clearly 
when  awake ;  but  her  sleeping  exercises  were  so  solemn  and  im 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


391 


pressive,  that  few  who  heard  them  doubted  that  they  were  the  genuine 
fruits  of  repentance,  piety,  and  peace. 

Dr.  Mitchell,  in  describing  Miss  Baker’s  case,  says,  “  the  latter 
of  these  remarkable  affections  of  the  human  mind,  ( Somnium  cum 
religione,)  i.  e.  sleep  with  religion,  belongs  to  Miss  Rachel  Baker, 
who  for  several  years  has  been  seized  with  somnium  of  a  religious 
kind  once  a  day  with  great  regularity.  These  daily  paroxysms 
recur  with  wonderful  exactness,  and  from  long  prevalence  have  now 
become  habitual.  They  invade  her  at  early  bedtime,  and  a  fit 
usually  lasts  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  A  paroxysm  has  been 
known  to  end  in  35  minutes,  and  to  continue  98.  The  transition 
from  the  waking  state  to  that  of  somnium  is  very  quick,  frequently  in 
quarter  of  an  hour,  and  sometimes  even  less.  After  she  retires  from 
company  in  the  parlor,  she  is  discovered  to  be  occupied  in  praising 
God  with  a  distinct  and  sonorous  voice.  Her  discourses  are  usually 
pronounced  in  a  private  chamber,  for  the  purpose  of  delivering  them 
with  more  decorum  on  her  own  part  and  with  greater  satisfaction  to 
her  hearers.  She  has  been  advised  to  take  the  recumbent  posture. 
Her  face  being  turned  towards  the  heavens,  she  performs  her  nightly 
devotions  with  a  consistency  and  fervor  wholly  unexampled  in  a 
human  being  in  a  state  of  somnium.  Her  body  and  limbs  are  mo¬ 
tionless,  they  stir  no  more  than  the  trunk  and  extremities  of  a  statue : 
the  only  motion  the  spectator  perceives  is  that  of  her  organs  of  speech, 
and  an  oratorical  inclination  of  the  head  and  neck,  as  if  she  was  intently 
engaged  in  performing  an  academic  or  theological  exercise.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  the  tenor  and  solemnity  of  the  address,  the  attendants  are 
affected  with  seriousness.  She  commences  and  ends  with  an  address 
to  the  throne  of  grace,  consisting  of  proper  topics  of  submission  and 
reverence,  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  and  of  prayer  for  herself,  her 
friends*,  the  church,  the  nation,  for  enemies,  and  the  human  race  in 
general.  Between  these  is  her  sermon  or  exhortation.  She  begins 
without  a  text,  and  proceeds  with  an  even  course  to  the  end,  embel¬ 
lishing  it  sometimes  with  fine  metaphors,  vivid  descriptions,  and  poeti¬ 
cal  quotations.  There  is  a  state  of  the  body  felt  like  groaning,  sob¬ 
bing,  or  moaning,  and  the  distressful  sound  continues  from  two 
minutes  to  quarter  of  an  hour.  This  agitation,  however,  does  not 
wake  her ;  it  gradually  subsides,  and  she  passes  into  a  sound  and 
natural  sleep,  which  continues  during  the  remainder  of  the  night.  In 
the  morning  she  wakes  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  and  entirely  igno 
rant  of  the  scenes  in  which  she  has  acted.  She  declares  she  knows 
nothing  of  her  nightly  exercises  except  from  the  information  of  others. 
With  the  exception  of  the  before-mentioned  agitation  of  body  and 
exercise  of  mind,  she  enjoys  perfect  health.  In  October,  1814,  Miss 
Baker  was  brought  to  New  York  by  her  friends,  in  hopes  that  her 
somnial  exercises,  (which  were  considered  by  some  of  them  as 
owing  to  disease,)  might  by  the  exercise  of  a  journey  and  the  novelty 
of  a  large  city  be  removed.  But  none  of  these  means  produced  the 
desired  effect.  Her  acquaintances  stated  that  her  somnial  exercises 
took  place  every  night  regularly,  except  in  a  few  instances  when 


392 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


interrupted  by  severe  sickness,  from  the  time  they  commenced  in 
1812.  In  September,  1816,  Dr.  Sears,  by  a  course  of  medical  treat¬ 
ment,  particularly  by  the  use  of  opium,  prevented  a  recurrence  of 
her  nightly  exercises. 

19.  Abduction  of  William  Morgan. 

Batavia  has  acquired  celebrity  from  its  being  the  place  from  which 
William  Morgan  was  abducted  in  1826,  for  attempting  to  reveal  the 
secrets  of  free  masonry.  Morgan,  it  appears,  was  born  in  1774,  in 
Culpepper  county,  Va.  His  occupation  was  originally  that  of  a 
bricklayer  and  stone  mason.  He  removed  from  Virginia  in  1821, 
and  went  to  York,  U.  C. ;  from  thence  he  removed  to  Rochester. 
From  various  misfortunes,  he  became  quite  reduced  in  his  circum¬ 
stances,  and  in  the  summer  of  1826  he  resided  in  the  village  of  Bata¬ 
via.  While  here,  he  became  connected  with  D.  C.  Miller,  a  printer, 
for  the  purpose  of  publishing  a  work  disclosing  masonic  obligations, 
secret  signs,  &c.  Morgan,  it  appears,  was  a  royal  arch  mason  ;  and 
when  the  fact  became  known  that  he  was  preparing  a  work  to  reveal 
the  secrets  of  masonry,  many  of  the  masonic  fraternity  became  much 
excited,  and  appeared  determined  to  put  an  end  to  his  disclosures. 
For  this  purpose,  his  character  was  assailed  in  the  public  prints.  In 
July,  1826,  Morgan  was  arrested  on  a  civil  suit  at  Batavia,  and  gave 
bail ;  he  was  afterward  arrested  and  hurried  to  jail,  without  time 
being  given  him  to  procure  bail,  and  search  was  made  at  his  lodgings 
for  his  papers  on  some  pretended  process,  the  sheriff  in  the  mean 
time  absenting  himself.  An  attempt  was  afterward  made  to  burn 
down  Miller’s  printing  office,  where  “  Morgan’s  Book”  was  print¬ 
ing. 

On  Supday,  Sept.  10th,  application  was  made  to  J.  Chipman,  Esq., 
a  magistrate  of  Canandaigua,  for  a  warrant  to  apprehend  Morgan  for 
stealing  a  shirt  and  cravat,  which  it  appeared  afterward  he  had  only 
borrowed.  The  warrant  being  issued,  the  constable  at  Canandaigua, 
attended  by  five  other  persons  from  that  place,  immediately  set  out 
for  Batavia,  where  they  arrived  in  the  evening.  Early  the  next 
morning,  (Monday,)  Morgan  was  arrested  and  taken  to  the  public 
house  where  the  party  had  slept ;  an  extra  stage-coach  was  procured, 
and  the  party  left  Batavia  for  Canandaigua,  with  Morgan  in  their  cus¬ 
tody.  Miller  attempted  to  procure  the  release  of  Morgan  just  as  the 
carriage  was  starting,  but  he  was  pushed  aside,  and  the  driver  was 
urged  to  drive  fast  till  he  should  get  out  of  the  county.  Having 
arrived  in  Canandaigua,  Morgan  in  the  evening  was  taken  before  the 
magistrate  who  had  issued  the  warrant,  and  was  by  him  examined 
and  discharged.  One  of  the  party  then  immediately  applied  to  the 
same  magistrate  for  a  warrant  against  Morgan  for  a  debt  of  about 
$2,  which  he  said  had  been  assigned  to  him  by  a  tavern  keeper. 
Judgment  was  entered  against  Morgan  for  $2.69,  debt  and  costs, 
and  an  execution  immediately  issued.  Morgan  took  off  his  coat,  and 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


393 


offered  it  to  the  constable  to  levy  upon  for  the  debt.  The  constable 
declined  receiving  it,  and  Morgan  was  committed  to  the  Canandaigua 
jail  the  same  evening,  where  he  remained  till  the  evening  of  the  next 
day. 

On  the  12th  of  Sept.,  about  9  o’clock  in  the  evening,  the  wife  of  the 

Slier,  at  the  request  of  the  plaintiff  in  the  execution,  consented  to  let 
organ  out  of  the  prison.  As  he  was  leaving  the  jail  steps,  he  was 
violently  seized  by  two  persons  ;  he  struggled,  and  cried  “  murder,” 
a  number  of  times.  Two  other  persons  now  came  up,  one  of  whom 
stopped  Morgan’s  outcry  by  thrusting  a  handkerchief,  or  something 
similar,  into  his  mouth.  At  a  signal  given  by  one  of  the  party,  a  two- 
horse  carriage  now  drove  up ;  two  of  the  party  thrust  Morgan  into 
the  carriage,  and  then  got  in  themselves.  This  carriage  arrived  in 
Rochester  about  day-dawn  the  next  morning.  Another  carriage 
was  procured,  and  relays  of  horses  were  obtained.  When  the  party 
arrived  at  New  Fane,  about  3  miles  from  Lockport,  they  sent  to  the 
sheriff  of  Niagara  county,  to  assist  them  in  getting  Morgan  into 
Canada.  The  sheriff  accordingly  left  Lockport,  attended  the  party, 
and  assisted  them  in  procuring  horses,  &c.  They  arrived  at  Lewis¬ 
ton  about  midnight ;  here  another  carriage  was  procured,  and  the 
party  was  driven  to  the  burying  ground  near  Fort  Niagara.  Here 
they  left  the  carriage  and  proceeded  with  Morgan  in  their  custody  to 
the  ferry,  and  crossed  over  to  the  Canada  side.  After  conferring  with 
a  number  of  persons  in  Niagara  village,  Morgan  was  brought  back, 
as  arrangements  had  not  been  completed  for  his  reception.  This 
event  it  appears  had  been  anticipated.  Morgan  was  taken  to  the 
magazine  of  Fort  Niagara,  and  locked  in  before  day-dawn,  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th  of  September. 

On  the  day  that  Morgan  was  put  into  the  magazine,  a  royal  arch 
chapter  was  installed  at  Lewiston,  which  event  called  together  a 
considerable  assemblage  of  masons  from  the  vicinity.  “  In  the  even¬ 
ing,  20  or  30  persons  came  to  the  fort  from  Lewiston.  About  mid¬ 
night,  7  persons,  stated  to  be  royal  arch  masons,  held  a  consultation 
on  the  plain  near  the  graveyard,  as  to  the  manner  in  which  Morgan 
should  be  disposed  of.  The  prevailing  opinion  among  them  appeared 
to  be,  that  Morgan  had  forfeited  his  life  for  a  breach  of  his  masonic 
obligations,  and  that  they  ought  to  see  the  penalty  executed  by 
drowning  him  in  the  river ;  some  of  the  company  discovering  a  re¬ 
luctance  to  go  to  such  lengths,  the  project  was  abandoned  at  that  time. 
On  the  night  of  the  15th,  a  similar  consultation  was  held  between 
four  persons,  but  nothing  was  decided  on.  “  As  to  the  disposition  of 
Morgan,  after  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  September,  nothing  has  yet 
been  known  judicially,  but  circumstances  are  strong,  to  induce  the 
belief  that  he  was  put  to  death  on  the  night  of  the  19th  of  Sept., 
1826,  by  being  cast  into  the  depths  of  Niagara  river.” 

50 


394 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


20.  Conflagration  of  the  Phoenix,  Sept.  5,  1819. 

The  steamboat  left  Burlington  for  Plattsburg  about  midnight,  and  had  proceeded  by  one 
o’clock  in  the  morning  as  far  as  Providence  island,  when  the  alarm  was  given.  The  boat 
at  this  time  was  temporarily  commanded  by  a  son  of  the  captain,  Richard  M.  Sherman,  a 
young  man  of  twenty-two.  “  Amid  the  confusion,  danger,  and  difficulties  attendant  on  this 
terrible  disaster,  he  displayed  an  energy  and  presence  of  mind,  not  only  worthy  of  the 
highest  praise,  but  which  we  might  seek  for  in  vain,  even  among  those  of  riper  years.  To 
qualities  like  these,  rightly  directed  as  they  were,  was  it  owing  that  not  a  person  was  lost 
on  that  fearful  night.  In  that  burning  vessel,  at  the  dead  of  night,  and  three  miles  from 
the  nearest  land,  was  the  safety  of  every  one  cared  for,  and  ultimately  secured,  by  the 
promptness,  energy,  and  decision  of  this  young  commander.” 

Shortly  after  the  fire  was  discovered,  it  raged  with  irresistible  violence.  “  The  passen¬ 
gers,  roused  by  the  alarm  from  their  slumbers,  and  waking  to  a  terrible  sense  of  impending 
destruction,  rushed  in  crowds  upon  the  deck,  and  attempted  to  seize  the  small-boats. 
Here,  however,  they  were  met  by  young  Sherman,  who,  having  abandoned  all  hope  of 
saving  his  boat,  now  thought  only  of  saving  his  passengers,  and  stood  by  the  gangway  with 
a  pistol  in  each  hand,  determined  to  prevent  any  person  from  jumping  into  the  boats  be¬ 
fore  they  were  properly  lowered  into  the  water,  and  prepared  to  receive  their  living  freight. 
With  the  utmost  coolness  and  presence  of  mind  he  superintended  the  necessary  prepara¬ 
tions,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  the  boats  were  lowered  away,  and  the  passengers  received 
safely  on  board.  They  then  shoved  off,  and  pulled  through  the  darkness  for  the  distant 
shore.  As  soon  as  this  was  reached,  and  the  passengers  landed,  the  boats  returned  to  the 
steamboat  and  took  off  the  crew,  and,  as  the  captain  supposed,  every  living  soul  except 
himself.  But,  shortly  after  the  boats  had  left  the  second  time,  he  discovered,  under  a  set¬ 
tee,  the  chambermaid  of  the  Phoenix,  who,  in  her  fright  and  confusion,  had  lost  all  con¬ 
sciousness.  Lashing  her  to  the  plank  which  he  had  prepared  for  his  own  escape,  this  gal¬ 
lant  captain  launched  her  towards  the  shore  ;  and  was  thus  left  alone  with  his  vessel,  now 
one  burning  pile.  Having  satisfied  himself  that  no  living  thing  remained  on  board  his  boat, 
and  with  the  proud  consciousness  that  he  had  saved  every  life  intrusted  to  his  care,  he 
sprung  from  the  burning  wreck  as  it  was  about  to  sink  beneath  the  waters,  and,  by  the 
means  of  a  settee,  reached  the  shore  in  safety. — This  is  no  exaggerated  story.  It  is  the 
simple  narrative  of  one  of  the  most  heroic  acts  on  record.  We  have  only  to  add,  that  the 
captain  who  so  faithfully  and  fearlessly  discharged  his  duty  on  this  trying  occasion,  is  still 
(1840)  in  command  of  a  noble  boat  on  Lake  Champlain,  and  is  known  to  every  traveller 
as  Captain  Sherman,  of  the  steamboat  Burlington.” 

The  following  description  of  this  terrific  scene  was  written  by  one  of  the  passengers : — 
“  I  awoke  at  the  time  of  the  alarm,  but  whether  aroused  by  the  cry  of  fire,  the  noise  of  feet 
trampling  on  deck,  or  by  that  restlessness  common  to  persons  who  sleep  in  a  strange  place, 
with  a  mind  filled  with  sorrow  and  anxiety,  I  am  unable  to  tell.  I  thought  I  heard  a  faint 
cry  of  fire,  and,  after  a  short  interval,  it  seemed  to  be  renewed.  But  it  came  so  weakly 
upon  my  ear,  and  seemed  to  be  flung  by  so  careless  a  voice,  that  I  concluded  it  was  an 
unmeaning  sound  uttered  by  some  of  the  sailors  in  their  sports  on  deck.  Soon,  however,  a 
hasty  footstep  was  heard  passing  through  the  cabin,  but  without  a  word  being  uttered.  As 
I  approached  the  top  of  the  cabin  stairs,  an  uncommon  brilliancy  at  once  dispelled  all 
doubts.  Instantly  the  flames  and  sparks  began  to  meet  my  eyes,  and  the  thought  struck 
me  that  no  other  way  of  escape  was  left  but  to  plunge  half  naked  through  the  blaze  into  the 
water.  One  or  two  more  steps  assured  me  that  this  dreadful  alternative  was  not  yet  ar¬ 
rived  :  I  hastily  stepped  aft, — a  lurid  light  illuminated  every  object  beyond  with  the  splen¬ 
dor  of  a  noon-day  sun ;  I  fancied  it  was  the  torch  of  death,  to  point  me  and  my  fellow- 
travellers  to  the  tomb.  I  saw  no  person  on  deck ;  but,  on  casting  my  eyes  towards  the  boat 
which  was  still  hanging  on  the  larboard  quarter,  I  perceived  that  she  was  filled,  and  that 
her  stern-sheets  were  occupied  with  ladies.  I  flew  to  the  gangway,  and  assisted  in  lower¬ 
ing  the  boat  into  the  water.  I  then  descended  the  steps,  with  an  intention  of  entering  the 
boat ;  but  perceiving  that  she  was  loaded  deep,  and  that  there  was  a  strong  breeze  and  a 
high  sea,  I  desisted.  The  painter  was  soon  cut,  and  the  boat  dropped  astern.  I  ascended 
the  steps  with  the  design  of  submitting  myself  to  the  water  upon  a  plank ;  for  I  had  great 
confidence  in  my  skill  in  swimming,  and  I  acted  under  an  impression  that  the  shore  was 
only  a  few  rods,  certainly  not  half  a  mile  distant.  Judge  of  what  would  have  been  my  as¬ 
tonishment,  and  probably  also  my  fate,  had  I  done  as  I  contemplated ;  when  the  fact  was, 
that  the  steamboat  at  this  period  was  in  the  broadest  part  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  at  least 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


395 


three  miles  from  any  land.  I  had  left  the  deck  about  two  hours  before,  and  this  change 
had  occurred  in  the  mean  time.  I  looked  round  upon  the  deck  to  find  a  suitable  board,  or 
something  of  sufficient  buoyancy,  that  I  could  trust  to  amid  such  waves  as  I  saw  were  run¬ 
ning.  There  was  nothing  large  enough  to  deserve  such  confidence  ;  I  looked  aft  over  the 
taffrail,  every  thing  there  looked  gloomy  and  forbidding ;  I  cast  my  eyes  forward,  the  wind 
was  directly  ahead,  and  the  flames  were  forced,  in  the  most  terrific  manner,  towards  the 
stern,  threatening  every  thing  in  its  range  with  instant  destruction.  I  then  thought  if  I 
could  pass  the  middle  of  the  boat,  which  seemed  also  to  be  the  centre  of  the  fire,  I  might 
find  security  in  standing  to  windward  on  the  bowsprit.  I  made  the  attempt.  It  was  vain. 
The  flames  were  an  insurmountable  barrier.  I  was  obliged  to  return  towards  the  stern. 
There  was  then  no  one  in  sight.  I  stepped  over  upon  the  starboard  side  of  the  quarter¬ 
deck.  I  thought  all  was  gone  with  me.  At  that  moment  I  saw  a  lady  come  up  to  the 
cabin  door ;  she  leaned  against  the  side  of  it,  and  looked  with  a  steadfast  gaze  and  dis¬ 
tracted  air  towards  the  flames ;  she  turned  and  disappeared  in  the  cabin.  It  was  Mrs.  Wil¬ 
son,  the  poor  unfortunate  lady  who,  afterward,  with  the  captain’s  assistance,  as  he  informed 
me,  committed  herself,  with  many  piercing  shrieks  and  agonizing  exclamations,  to  the 
treacherous  support  of  a  small  bench,  on  the  troublous  bosom  of  the  lake.  I  then  looked 
over  the  starboard  quarter  to  know  whether  the  other  boat  was  indeed  gone.  I  had  the 
happiness  to  see  her ;  she  seemed  to  be  full,  or  nearly  so ;  one  or  two  passengers  were 
standing  on  the  lower  steps  of  the  accommodation  ladder,  apparently  with  the  design  of 
entering  the  boat  when  she  came  within  reach.  I  was  determined  to  enter  her  at  all  risks, 
and  instantly  leaped  over  the  quarter  and  descended  into  her.  I  found  her  knocking  under 
the  counter,  and  in  danger  of  foundering.  The  steam-vessel  still  continued  to  advance 
through  the  water :  the  waves  dashed  the  boat  with  considerable  violence  against  her,  and 
most  of  those  who  had  sought  safety  in  the  boat,  being  unacquainted  with  water  scenes, 
were  much  alarmed,  and  by  their  ill-directed  efforts  were  adding  to  the  risk.  Under  these 
circumstances  it  became  necessary  to  cut  the  fast,  which  was  done,  and  the  boat,  and  those 
that  were  in  it,  were  instantly  secure.  All  these  incidents  occurred  in  a  shorter  time  than 
I  have  consumed  in  writing  them.  From  the  moment  of  my  hearing  the  first  alarm  to  that 
of  leaving  the  steamboat,  was  not,  I  am  satisfied,  near  ten  minutes ;  I  believe  it  was  not  five.” 


21.  Wreck  of  the  Mexico. 

The  wreck  of  the  Mexico,  on  Hempstead  beach,  January  2,  1837, 
was  a  heart-rending  scene.  Being  in  the  dead  of  winter,  the  suffer¬ 
ings  of  the  unhappy  crew  and  passengers  from  the  cold  were  intense. 
The  annexed  description  of  their  appearance  after  death  is  given  by 
an  eye-witness. 

“  On  reaching  Hempstead,  I  concluded  to  go  somewhat  off  the  road,  to  look  at  the  place 
where  the  ship  Mexico  was  cast  away.  In  half  an  hour,  we  came  to  Lott’s  tavern,  some 
four  or  five  miles  this  side  of  the  beach,  where  the  ship  lay ;  and  there,  in  his  barn,  had 
been  deposited  the  bodies  of  the  ill-fated  passengers,  which  had  been  thrown  upon  the 
shore.  I  went  out  to  the  barn.  The  doors  were  open,  and  such  a  scene  as  presented  it¬ 
self  to  my  view,  I  certainly  never  could  have  contemplated.  It  was  a  dreadful,  a  frightful 
scene  of  horror. 

“  Forty  or  fifty  bodies,  of  all  ages  and  sexes,  were  lying  promiscuously  before  me  over 
the  floor,  all  frozen  and  as  solid  as  marble — and  all,  except  a  few,  in  the  very  dresses  in 
which  they  perished.  Some  with  their  hands  clenched,  as  if  for  warmth,  and  almost  every 
one  with  an  arm  crooked  and  bent,  as  it  would  be  in  clinging  to  the  rigging. 

“  There  were  scattered  about  among  the  number,  four  or  five  beautiful  little  girls,  from 
six  to  sixteen  years  of  age,  their  cheeks  and  lips  as  red  as  roses,  with  their  calm  blue  eyes 
open,  looking  you  in  the  face,  as  if  they  would  speak.  I  could  hardly  realize  that  they 
were  dead.  I  touched  their  cheeks,  and  they  were  frozen  as  hard  and  as  solid  as  a  rock, 
and  not  the  least  indentation  could  be  made  by  any  pressure  of  the  hand.  I  could  perceive 
a  resemblance  to  each  other,  and  supposed  them  to  be  the  daughters  of  a  passenger  named 
Pepper,  who  perished,  together  with  his  wife  and  all  the  family. 

“  On  the  arms  of  some,  were  seen  the  impressions  of  the  rope  which  they  had  clung  to, 
the  mark  of  the  twist  deeply  sunk  into  the  flesh.  I  saw  one  poor  negro  sailor,  a  tall  man, 
with  his  head  thrown  back,  his  lips  parted,  and  his  now  sightless  eve-balls  turned  upwards, 


396 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


and  his  arms  crossed  over  his  breast,  as  if  imploring  heaven  for  aid.  This  poor  fellow  evi¬ 
dently  had  frozen  while  in  the  act  of  fervent  prayer. 

“  One  female  had  a  rope  tied  to  her  leg,  which  had  bound  her  to  the  rigging ;  and  anoth. 
er  little  fellow  had  been  crying,  and  was  thus  frozen,  with  the  muscles  of  the  face  just  as 
we  see  children  when  crying.  There  were  a  brother  and  a  sister  dashed  upon  the  beach, 
locked  in  each  other’s  arms  ;  but  they  had  been  separated  in  the  bam.  All  the  men  had 
their  lips  firmly  compressed  together,  and  with  the  most  agonizing  expression  on  their 
countenances  I  ever  beheld. 

“  One  little  girl  had  raised  herself  on  tiptoe,  and  thus  was  frozen,  just  in  that  position.  It 
was  an  awful  sight ;  and  such  a  picture  of  horror  was  before  me,  that  I  became  uncon¬ 
sciously  fixed  to  the  spot,  and  found  myself  trying  to  suppress  my  ordinary  breathing,  lest 
I  should  disturb  the  repose  of  those  around  me.  I  was  aroused  from  the  revery  by  the 
entrance  of  a  man — a  coroner. 

“  As  I  was  about  to  leave,  my  attention  became  directed  to  a  girl,  who,  I  afterward 
learned,  had  come  that  morning  from  the  city  to  search  for  her  sister.  She  had  sent  for 
her  to  come  over  from  England,  and  had  received  intelligence  that  she  was  in  this  ship. 
She  came  into  the  barn,  and  the  second  body  she  cast  her  eyes  upon,  was  hers.  She  gave 
way  to  such  a  burst  of  impassioned  grief  and  anguish,  that  I  could  not  behold  her  without 
sharing  in  her  feelings.  She  threw  herself  upon  the  cold  and  icy  face  and  neck  of  the 
lifeless  body,  and  thus,  with  her  arms  around  her,  remained  wailing,  mourning,  and  sob 
bing,  till  I  came  away ;  and  when  some  distance  off,  I  could  hear  her  calling  her  by  name 
in  the  most  frantic  manner. 

“  So  little  time,  it  appears,  had  they  to  prepare  for  their  fate,  that  I  perceived  a  bunch  of 
keys,  and  a  half  eaten  cake,  fall  from  the  bosom  of  a  girl  whom  the  coroner  was  removing 
The  cake  appeared  as  if  part  of  it  had  just  been  bitten,  and  hastily  thrust  into  her  bosom, 
and  round  her  neck  was  a  riband,  with  a  pair  of  scissors. 

“  And  to  observe  the  stout,  rugged  sailors,  too,  whose  iron  frames  could  endure  so  much 
hardship — here  they  lay  masses  of  ice.  Such  scenes  show  us,  indeed,  how  powerless  and 
feeble  are  all  human  efforts,  when  contending  against  the  storms  and  tempests,  which  sweep 
with  resistless  violence  over  the  face  of  the  deep.  And  yet  the  vessel  was  so  near  the 
shore,  that  the  shrieks  and  moans  of  the  poor  creatures  were  heard  through  that  bitter, 
dreadful  night,  till  towards  morning,  when  the  last  groan  died  away,  and  all  was  hushed  in 
death,  and  the  murmur  of  the  raging  billows  was  all  the  sound  that  then  met  the  ear.” 

A  monument  is  now  erected  at  Near  Rockaway,  four  miles  s.  w. 
of  Hempstead  village,  to  the  memory  of  the  sufferers  of  the  Mexico, 
and  also  to  the  memory  of  77  persons  comprising  passengers  and 
crew  of  the  American  ship  Bristol,  wrecked  on  Far  Rockaway  beach, 
November  21,  1836.  The  marble  monument,  eighteen  feet  high,  was 
erected  partly  by  money  found  on  the  persons  of  the  sufferers,  and 
partly  by  the  contributions  of  the  benevolent  and  humane  in  Queens 
county.  The  grave  is  about  nine  feet  wide  and  one  hundred  long, 
containing  the  bodies  of  nearly  one  hundred  individuals. 

22.  An  Account  of  Joseph  Smith  and  Mormotiism. 

Joseph  Smith,  the  founder  of  Mormonism,  was  bom  in  Royalton,  Vt.,  and  removed  to 
Manchester,  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  about  the  year  1820,  at  an  early  age,  with  his  parents, 
who  were  in  quite  humble  circumstances.  He  was  occasionally  employed  in  Palmyra  as 
a  laborer,  and  bore  the  reputation  of  a  lazy  and  ignorant  young  man.  According  to  the 
testimony  of  respectable  individuals  in  that  place,  Smith  and  his  father  were  persons  of 
doubtful  moral  character,  addicted  to  disreputable  habits,  and  moreover  extremely  supersti¬ 
tious,  believing  in  the  existence  of  witchcraft.  They  at  one  time  procured  a  mineral  rod, 
and  dug  in  various  places  for  money.  Smith  testified  that  when  digging  he  had  seen  the 
pot  or  chest  containing  the  treasure,  but  never  was  fortunate  enough  to  get  it  into  his  hands 
He  placed  a  singular  looking  stone  in  his  hat,  and  pretended  by  the  light  of  it  to  make 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


397 


many  wonderful  discoveries  of  gold,  silver,  and  other  treasures,  deposited  in  the  earth.  He 
commenced  his  career  as  the  founder  of  the  new  sect  when  about  the  age  of  18  or  19,  and 
appointed  a  number  of  meetings  in  Palmyra,  for  the  purpose  of  declaring  the  divine  revela, 
tions  which  he  said  were  made  to  him.  He  was,  however,  unable  to  produce  any  excite, 
ment  in  the  village ;  but  very  few  had  curiosity  sufficient  to  listen  to  him.  Not  having 
the  means  to  print  his  revelations,  he  applied  to  Mr.  Crane,  of  the  society  of  Friends,  de¬ 
claring  that  he  was  moved  by  the  spirit  to  call  upon  him  for  assistance.  This  gentleman 
bid  him  to  go  to  work,  or  the  state  prison  would  end  his  career.  Smith  had  better  success 
with  Martin  Harris,  an  industrious  and  thrifty  farmer  of  Palmyra,  who  was  worth  about 
$10,000,  and  who  became  one  of  his  leading  disciples.  By  his  assistance,  5,000  copies  of 
the  Molmon  Bible,  (so  called,)  were  published  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,000.  It  is  possi¬ 
ble  that  Harris  might  have  made  the  advances  with  the  expectation  of  a  profitable  specula, 
tion,  as  a  great  sale  was  anticipated.  This  work  is  a  duodecimo  volume,  containing  590 
pages,  and  is  perhaps  one  of  the  weakest  productions  ever  attempted  to  be  palmed  off  as  a 
divine  revelation.  It  is  mostly  a  blind  mass  of  words,  interwoven  with  scriptural  language 
and  quotations,  without  much  of  a  leading  plan  or  design.  It  is  in  fact  such  a  production 
as  might  be  expected  from  a  person  of  Smith’s  abilities  and  turn  of  mind.  The  following 
is  a  copy  of  the  title  page  : 

“The  Book  of  Mormon:  an  account  written  by  the  hand  of  Mormon,  upon  plates  taken  from 

THE  PLATES  Of  NePHI. 

“  Wherefore  it  is  an  abridgment  of  the  record  of  the  people  of  Nephi,  and  also  of  the  Lairianites ;  written 
to  the  Lamanites,  which  are  a  remnant  of  the  house  of  Israel,  and  also  to  the  Jew  and  Gentile,  written  by 
way  of  commandment,  and  also  by  the  spirit  of  Prophecy  and  Revelation.  Written  and  sealed  up  and  hid 
up  to  the  Lord  that  they  may  not  be  destroyed,  to  come  forth  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God  unto  the  inter 
pretation  thereof,  sealed  by  the  hand  of  Moroni  and  hid  up  unto  the  Lord  to  come  forth  in  due  time  by  the 
way  of  the  Gentile:  the  interpretation  thereof  by  the  gift  of  God,  an  abridgment  taken  from  the  hook  of 
Ether.  Also,  which  is  a  Record  of  the  People  of  Jared,  which  were  scattered  at  the  time  the  Lord  con¬ 
founded  the  language  of  the  people  when  they  were  building  a  tower  to  get  to  Heaven,  which  is  to  shew 
unto  the  remnant  of  the  house  of  Israel  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  unto  their  fathers,  and  that 
tin  y  may  know  the  covenants  of  the  Lord,  and  that  they  are  not  cast  olf  forever ;  and  also  to  the  convincing 
of  the  Jew  and  Gentile,  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Eternal  God,  manifesting  Himself  unto  all  nations. 
And  now  if  there  are  faults  it  be  the  mistake  of  men,  wherefore  condemn  not  the  things  of  God  that  ye  may 
be  found  spotless  at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ. 

“  By  Joseph  Smith,  Junior,  Author  and  Proprietor,  Palmyra.  Printed  by  E.  B.  Grandin,  for  the  Author, 
1830.” 

At  the  close  of  the  book  is  “  the  testimony  of  three  witnesses,”  viz  :  Oliver  Cowdery, 
David  Whitmer,  and  Martin  Harris,  in  which  they  state  unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues 
and  people,  that  they  have  seen  the  plates  containing  the  record,  and  the  engravings  upon 
them,  &c.  On  the  last  page  is  contained  the  testimony  of  eight  witnesses,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy : 

“  Be  it  known  unto  all  nations,  kindred,  tongues,  and  people,  unto  whom  this  book  shall  come,  that  Joseph 
Smith,  Jr.,  the  Author  and  Proprietor  of  this  work,  hath  shewed  unto  us  the  plates  of  which  hath  been 
spoken,  which  have  the  appearance  of  gold ;  and  as  many  of  the  leaves  as  the  said  Smith  has  translated  we 
did  handle  with  our  hands,  and  we  also  saw  the  engravings  thereof,  all  of  which  had  the  appearance  of 
ancient  work  and  of  curious  workmanship.  And  this  we  bear  record,  with  words  of  soberness,  that  the  said 
Smith  has  shown  unto  us,  for  we  have  seen  and  hefted,  and  know  of  a  surety  that  the  said  Smith  has  got 
the  plates  of  which  we  have  spoken.  And  we  give  our  names  unto  the  world  that  which  we  have  seen  and 
we  lie  not,  God  bearing  witness  of  it.  Christian  Whitmer,  Jacob  Whitmer,  Peter  Whitmer,  Jr.,  John 
Whitmer,  Hiram  Page,  Joseph  Smith,  Senior,  Hyrum  Smith,  Samuel  H.  Smith.” 

In  the  preface,  Smith  states  “  that  the  plates  of  which  have  been  spoken,  were  found  in 
the  township  of  Manchester,  Ontario  county,  New  York.” 

It  is  stated  by  persons  in  Palmyra,  that  when  he  exhibited  these  plates  to  his  followers, 
they  were  done  up  in  a  canvas  bag,  and  Smith  made  the  declaration,  that  if  they  uncovered 
them,  the  Almighty  would  strike  them  dead.  It  is  said  that  no  one  but  Smith  could  read 
what  was  engraved  upon  them ;  which  he  was  enabled  to  do  by  looking  through  a  peculiar 
kind  of  spectacles  found  buried  with  the  plates. 

Soon  after  the  publication  of  the  Mormon  Bible,  one  Parley  B.  Pratt,  a  resident  of  Lor 
rain  county,  Ohio,  happening  to  pass  through  Palmyra,  on  the  canal,  hearing  of  the  new 
religion,  called  on  the  prophet  and  was  soon  converted.  Pratt  was  intimate  with  Sidney 
Rigdon,  a  very  popular  preacher  of  the  denomination  called  “  Reformers”  or  “  Disciples.” 
About  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  Pratt  at  Manchester,  the  Smiths  were  fitting  out  an  expe¬ 
dition  for  the  western  country,  under  the  command  of  Cowdery,  in  order  to  convert  the 
Indians  or  Lamanites,  as  they  termed  them.  In  October,  1830,  this  mission,  consisting  of 
Cowdery,  Pratt,  Peterson,  and  Whitmer,  arrived  at  Mentor,  Ohio,  the  residence  of  Rigdon, 
well  supplied  with  the  new  Bibles.  Near  this  place,  in  Kirtland,  there  were  a  few  families 
belonging  to  Rigdon’s  congregation,  who  having  become  extremely  fanatical,  were  daily 
looking  for  some  wonderful  event  to  take  place  in  the  world.  Seventeen  of  these  persons 
readily  believed  in  Mormonism,  and  were  all  re-immersed,  in  one  night,  by  Cowdery.  By 


398 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS. 


The  Mormon  Hill. 


[The  above  is  a  northern  view  of  the  Mormon  Hill  in  the  town  of  Manchester,  about  3  miles  in  a  southern 
direction  from  Palmyra.  It  is  about  140  feet  in  height,  and  is  a  specimen  of  the  form  of  numerous  elevations 
in  this  section  of  the  state.  It  derives  its  name  from  being  the  spot,  (if  we  are  to  credit  the  testimony  of  Jo¬ 
seph  Smith,)  where  the  plates  containing  the  Book  of  Mormon  were  found.] 

the  conversion  of  Rigdon,  soon  after,  Mormonism  received  a  powerful  impetus,  and  more 
than  one  hundred  converts  were  speedily  added.  Rigdon  visited  Smith  at  Palmyra,  where 
he  tarried  about  two  months,  receiving  revelations,  preaching,  &,c.  He  then  returned  to 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  was  followed  a  few  days  after  by  the  prophet  Smith  and  his  connec. 
tions.  Thus  from  a  state  of  almost  beggary,  the  family  of  Smith  were  furnished  with  the 
“  fat  of  the  land”  by  their  disciples,  many  of  whom  were  wealthy. 

A  Mormon  temple  was  erected  at  Kirtland,  at  an  expense  of  about  $50,000.  In  this 
building,  there  was  a  sacred  apartment,  a  kind  of  holy  of  holies,  in  which  none  but  the 
priests  were  allowed  to  enter.  An  unsuccessful  application  was  made  to  the  legislature  for 
the  charter  of  a  bank.  Upon  the  refusal,  they  established  an  unchartered  institution,  com- 
menced  their  banking  operations,  issued  their  notes,  and  made  extensive  loans.  The 
society  now  rapidly  increased  in  wealth  and  numbers,  of  whom  many  were  doubtless  drawn 
thither  by  mercenary  motives.  But  the  bubble  at  last  burst.  The  bank  being  an  unchar¬ 
tered  institution,  the  debts  due  were  not  legally  collectable.  With  the  failure  of  this  insti¬ 
tution,  the  society  rapidly  declined,  and  Smith  was  obliged  to  leave  the  state  to  avoid  the 
sheriff.  Most  of  the  sect,  with  their  leader,  removed  to  Missouri,  where  many  outrages 
were  perpetrated  against  them.  The  Mormons  raised  an  armed  force  to  “  drive  off  the 
infidels;”  but  were  finally  obliged  to  leave  the  state. 

The  next  stand  made  by  the  Mormons  was  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  a 
fine  location  on  the  Mississippi  river.  Here  they  erected  a  splendid 
temple,  around  which  they  built  their  city,  which  at  one  time  con¬ 
tained  10,000  inhabitants.  But  soon  difficulties  arose,  as  in  other 
places,  between  them  and  the  surrounding  inhabitants.  By  some 
process  of  law  Joseph  Smith  (the  prophet)  and  his  brother  Hyram 
were  imprisoned  in  the  Carthage  jail,  near  Nauvoo,  and  a  guard  of 
eight  or  ten  men  were  stationed  at  the  jail  for  their  protection.  While 
here,  on  the  evening  of  June  27th,  1844,  an  armed  mob  of  about  200 
men,  in  disguise,  broke  through  the  guard,  and  firing  into  the  prison, 
killed  both  Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother  Hyram. 

The  Mormons  being  convinced  that  they  could  not  dwell  in  safety 
in  the  settled  parts  of  the  United  States,  sought  a  place  of  refuge  be¬ 
yond  the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  July,  1847,  a  pioneer  party  of  Mor¬ 
mons  laid  the  foundation  of  Salt  Lake  City,  2,100  miles  west  of  New 
York,  and  550  east  of  San  Francisco.  Since  this  period  the  colony 
has  rapidly  advanced  in  wealth  and  population. 


3!  19 


TABLE 

OF 

POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 

ON  JANUARY  1st,  1851. 

COMPILED  FROM  OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 


Post-OfficeB. 

Counties. 

Academy  . 

Ontario. 

Accord  . 

Ulster. 

Acra . 

Greene. 

Adams . 

Jefferson. 

Adams’  Basin . 

Monroe. 

Adams’  Center . 

Adainaville . 

Jefferson. 

Washington. 

Steuben. 

Addison  . 

Adirondac  . 

Essex. 

Adriance . 

Dutchess. 

Akron  . 

Erie. 

Alabama . 

Genesee. 

Albany. 

Orleans. 

Alden . 

Erie. 

Oneida. 

Genesee. 

Jefferson. 

Alexandria  Center. . 
Alfred . . 

Jefferson. 

Allegany. 

Allegany. 

Allegany. 

Allegany. 

Ontario. 

Wayne. 

Rensselaer. 

Steuben. 

Wayne. 

Suffolk. 

Onondaga. 

Oswego. 

Oswego. 

Dutchess. 

Amboy  Center . 

Amenia  Union . 

Dutchess.  . 
Montgomery. 
Ulster. 

Orange. 

Suffolk. 

Montgomery. 

Washington. 

Columbia. 

Anaquasscook . 

Ancrarn  Lead  Mines 

Columbia. 

Delaware. 

Allegany. 

Erie. 

Jefferson. 

Tioga. 

Onondaga. 

Wayne. 

Schoharie. 

Washington. 

Delaware. 

Arkwright . 

Cnautauque 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Arnoldton . 

Ulster. 

Arthursburgli...... 

Dutchess. 

Ashford . 

Cattaraugus. 

Ashland  . 

Greene. 

Astoria . 

Queens. 

Athens . 

Greene. 

Athol  . 

Warren. 

Attica  . 

Wyoming 

Attica  Center . 

Wyoming. 

Attlebury . 

Dutchess. 

Auburn  . 

Cayuga. 

Augusta  . 

Oneida. 

Aurelius . 

Cayuga. 

Auriesville . 

Montgomery. 

Aurora . 

Cayuga. 

Ausable  Forks  ... 

Essex. 

Austerlitz  . 

Columbia. 

Ava  . 

Oneida. 

Avoca . 

Steuben. 

Avon . 

Livingston. 

Axeville  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Babcock  Hill . 

Oneida. 

Babylon  . 

Suffolk. 

Baily’s  Four  Corners 

Greene. 

Bain  bridge . 

Chenango. 

Bainbridge  Center. . 

Chenango. 

Baiting  Hollow  .... 

Suffolk. 

Baldwin  . 

Chemung. 

Baldwinsville . 

Onondaga. 

Ballston . 

Saratoga. 

Ballston  Center  .... 

Saratoga. 

Bangor . 

Franklin. 

Barbourville  . 

Delaware. 

Barcelona . .  ■ 

Chautauque. 

Barkersville . 

Saratoga. 

Barnerville . 

Schoharie. 

Barnes’  Corners  .... 

Lewis. 

Barre  Center  . 

Orleans. 

Barrington  . 

Yates. 

Barrytown  . 

Dutchess. 

Barryville . 

Sullivan. 

Barton . 

Tioga. 

Barton  Hill . 

Schoharie. 

Batavia . 

Genesee. 

Batavia  Kill . 

Delaware. 

Bath . 

Steuben. 

Battenville . 

Washington. 

Beach  Hill  . 

Ulster. 

Bearsville . 

Ulster. 

Beaver  Brook . 

Sullivan. 

Beaver  Dams . 

Chemung. 

Beaver  Kill . 

Sullivan. 

Beaver  Meadow. . . . 

Chenango. 

Bedford . 

Westchester. 

Bedford  Station .... 

Westchester. 

Beekman . 

Dutchess. 

Post-Office9. 

Counties. 

Beekmantown . 

Clinton. 

Belcher . ,  Washington. 

Belfast . 

Allegany. 

Belle  Isle . 

Onondaga. 

Belleville . 

Jefferson. 

Bellport  . 

Suffolk. 

Bellvale  . 

Orange. 

Bemus’s  Heights  . . . 

Saratoga. 

Bennett’s  Corners. . . 

Madison. 

Bennett’s  Creek  .... 

Steuben. 

Bennettsburgh . 

Tompkins. 

Bennettsville  . 

Chenango. 

Bennington . 

Wyoming. 

Benson . 

Hamilton. 

Benton . 

Yates. 

Benton  Center . 

Yates. 

Bergen . 

Genesee. 

Bergholtz . 

Niagara. 

Berkshire . 

Tioga. 

Berlin  . 

Rensselaer. 

Berne  . 

Albany 

Bernhard’s  Bay  .... 

Oswego. 

Bethany  . 

Genesee. 

Bethel . 

Sullivan. 

Bethlehem . 

Albany. 

Bethlehem  Center . . 

Albany. 

Big  Brook  . 

Oneida. 

Big  Eddy . 

Sullivan. 

BigFlatts . 

Chemung. 

Big  Hollow . 

Greene. 

Big  Stream  Point... 

Yates. 

Big  Tree  Comers. . . 

Erie. 

Binghamton . 

Broome. 

Birdsall . 

Allegany. 

Black  Brook  . 

Clinton. 

Black  Creek . 

Allegany. 

Black  Lake . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Black  River . 

Jefferson. 

Black  Rock . 

Erie. 

Blauveltville  . 

Rockland. 

Bleeker . 

Fulton. 

Blenheim . 

Schoharie. 

Blink  Bonny  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Blockville  . 

Chautauque. 

Blodget  Mills . 

Cortlandt. 

Bloomingburgh  .... 

Sullivan. 

Blooming  Grove  . . . 

Orange. 

Bloomville . 

Delaware. 

Bluff  Point . 

Yates. 

Bolivar . 

Allegany. 

Bolton . 

Warren. 

Bombay  . 

Franklin. 

Booneville  . 

Oneida. 

Borodino . 

Onondaga. 

Boston . 

Erie. 

Bouckville . 

Madison. 

Bovina . 

Delaware. 

400 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Bovina  Center . 

Delaware. 

Bradford . 

Steuben. 

Brainard’s  Bridge  . . 

Rensselaer. 

Braman’s  Corners  . . 

Schenectady. 

Branchport . 

Yates. 

Brant  . 

Erie. 

Brantingham . 

Lewis. 

Brasher  Falls . 

St.  Lawrence 

Brasher  Iron  Works 

St.  Lawrence 

Breakabeen . 

Schoharie. 

Brewster’s  Station. . 

Putnam. 

Brewerton  . 

Onondaga. 

Bridgehampton  .... 

Suffolk. 

Bridgeport . 

Madison. 

Bridge  ville . 

Sullivan. 

Bridgewater . 

Oneida. 

Brighton . 

Monroe. 

Bristol  . 

Ontario. 

Bristol  Center . 

Ontario. 

Broadalbin . 

Fulton. 

Brocket’s  Bridge  . . . 

Fulton. 

Brockport  . 

Monroe. 

Brooklield  . 

Madison. 

Brooklyn . 

Kings. 

Brook’s  Grove  .... 

Livingston. 

Brookville  . 

Genesee. 

Broome  Center - 

Schoharie. 

Brownville . 

Jefferson. 

Brushland  . 

Delaware. 

Brushe’s  Mills . 

ir.inuim. 

Brushville  . 

Queens. 

Bruynswick . 

Ulster. 

Buck  Bridge  . 

St.  Lawrence 

Buckram  . .  . 

Queens. 

Bucktooth . 

Cattaraugus. 

Buel . 

Montgomery. 

Buffalo . 

Erie. 

Buffalo  Plains . 

Erie. 

Bull’s  Head . 

Dutchess. 

Bull  ville . 

Orange. 

Burdett . 

Tompkins. 

Burke . 

Franklin. 

Burlingham . 

Sullivan. 

Burlington . 

Otsego. 

Burlington  Flatts. . . 

Otsego. 

Burns  . 

Allegany. 

Burnt  Hills . 

Saratoga. 

Burr’s  Mills . 

Jefferson. 

Burton . 

Cattaraugus. 

Burtonsville . 

Montgomery. 

Bushnell’s  Basin  . . . 

Monroe. 

Bushnellsville . 

Greene. 

Bushirk’s  Bridge. . . 

Washington. 

Busti . 

Chautauque. 

Butler . 

Wayne. 

Butterfly . 

Oswego. 

Butternuts . 

Otsego. 

Buttermilk  Falls  . . . 

Orange. 

Byersville . 

Livingston. 

Bymville . 

Schoharie. 

Byron . 

Genesee. 

Cabin  Hill . 

Delaware. 

Cady  ville . 

Clinton. 

Cairo . 

Greene. 

Caldwell . 

Warren. 

Caledonia . 

Livingston. 

Callieoon . 

Sullivan. 

Callicoon  Depot. . . . 

Sullivan. 

Cambria . 

Niagara. 

Cambridge . 

Washington. 

Camden . 

Oneida. 

Cameron . 

Steuben. 

Cameron  Mills . 

Steuben. 

camillus . 

Onondaga. 

Campbelltown . 

Steuben. 

Campbellville . 

Dutchess. 

Campville . 

Tioga. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Columbia. 

Canaan  Center . 

Canaan  4  Corners  . . 

Columbia. 

Columbia. 

Ontario. 

Onondaga. 

Tioga. 

Allegany. 

Tioga. 

Canfield’s  Corner. . . 

Canons  ville . 

Canoga . 

Canterbury . 

Orange. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Canton . 

Cape  Vincent . 

Cardiff . 

Onondaga. 

Carlisle . 

Carlton . 

Carmel . 

Tompkins. 

Tompkins. 

Chautauque. 

Cattaraugus. 

Oswego. 

Dutchess. 

Caroline  Center. . . . 

Carthage  Landing. . 
Carthage . 

Chautauque. 

Wyoming. 

Castle  Creek . 

Chemung. 

Cayuga. 

Cayuga. 

Steuben. 

Cato  4  Corners . 

Oswego. 

Cayuga. 

Chemung. 

Tompkins. 

Madison. 

Albany. 

Queens. 

Cayuga . 

Cedar  Hill . 

Central  Bridge . 

Central  Square . 

Center  Almond  .... 

Schoharie. 

Oswego. 

Allegany. 

Center  Cambridge. . 

Centerfield . 

Centerlndependence 

W  ashington. 

Ontario. 

Allegany. 

Suffolk. 

Center  Sherman  . . . 

Chautauque. 

Allegany. 

Otsego. 

Washington. 

Jefferson. 

Center  White  Creek 

Champion  South 

Clinton. 

Cattaraugus. 

Chapels  burgh . 

Montgomery. 

Montgomery. 

Monroe. 

Chautauque. 

Schoharie 

Saratoga. 

Franklin. 

Allegany. 

Columbia. 

Columbia. 

Columbia. 

Jefferson. 

Charleston  4  Cor’s. . 

Charlotte  Center  . . . 

Chautauque  Valley 
Chatham . 

Chatham  Center  .. . 
Chatham  4  Corners 
Chaumont . 

Post-Officea. 


Chazy . 

Checkered  House.. 

Cheektowaga . 

Chemung . 

Chenango  Forks  . . . 

Cheningo . 

Cherry  Creek . 

Cherry  Valley . 

Cheshire . 

Chestnut  Ridge . 

Chester  . 

Chestertown  . 

Chief  Warrior . 

Chili . 

China . 

Chittenango . 

Chittenango  Falls  . . 

Churchtown . 

Church  ville . 

Cicero  . 

Cincinnatus . 

City . 

Clarence . 

Clarence  Center. . . . 

Clarendon  . 

Clark’s  Factory  — 

Clarkson  . 

Clarkson  Center.... 

Clarkstown . 

Clarksville . 

Claryville . 

Claverack . 

Clay . 

Clayville . 

Clayton . 

Clear  Creek . 

Clermont . 

Cleveland . 

Clifton . 

Clifton  Springs  .... 

Clifton  Park . 

Clinton . 

Clinton  Hollow  .... 

Clintonville . 

Clinton  Comers  .... 

Clockville . 

Clove . 

Clovesville . 

Clyde . 

Clymer . 

Clymer  Center . 

Cobleskill . 

Cochecton  . 

Coeymans  . 

Coeyman’s  Hollow . . 

Cohocton . 

Cohoes . 

Coila . 

Colchester  . 

Cold  Brook . 

Coldeu . 

Coldenham . 

Cold  Spring  . 

Cold  Spring  Harbor 

Colesville  . 

Collamer . 

Collins . 

Collins  Center . 

Collinsville . 

Colosse  . 

Columbia  . 

Columbus  . 

Comack  . 

Comstock's  Landing 

Conesus  . 

Conesville  . 

Conewango . 

'  Conklin  . 


Counties. 


Clinton. 

Oswego. 

Erie. 

Chemung. 

Broome. 

Cortlandt. 

Chautauque. 

Otsego. 

Ontario. 

Dutchess. 

Orange. 

Warren. 

Erie. 

Monroe. 

Wyoming. 

Madison. 

Madison. 

Columbia. 

Monroe. 

Onondaga. 

Cortlandt. 

Dutchess. 

Erie. 

Erie. 

Orleans. 

Delaware. 

Monroe. 

Monroe. 

Rockland. 

Albany. 

Sullivan. 

Columbia. 

Onondaga. 

Oneida. 

Jefferson. 

Chautauque. 

Columbia. 

Oswego. 

Monroe. 

Ontario. 

Saratoga. 

Oneida. 

Dutchess. 

Clinton. 

Dutchess. 

Madison. 

Dutchess. 

Delaware. 

Wayne. 

Chautauque. 

Chautauque. 

Schoharie. 

Sullivan. 

Albany. 

Albany. 

Steuben. 

Albany. 

Washington. 

Delaware. 

Herkimer. 

Erie. 

Orange. 

Putnam. 

Suffolk. 

Broome. 

Onondaga. 

Erie. 

Erie. 

Lewis. 

Oswego. 

Herkimer. 

Chenango. 

Suffolk. 

Washington. 

Livingston. 

Schoharie. 

Cattaraugus. 

Broome. 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


401 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Conquest . 

Cayuga. 

Constableville . 

Lewis. 

Constantia . 

Oswego. 

Constantia  Center. . 

Oswego. 

Cooksburgh  . 

Albany. 

Cooper’s  Plains  .... 

Steuben. 

Cooperstown . 

Otsego. 

Coopersville  . 

Clinton. 

Copake  . 

Columbia. 

Copenhagen  . 

Lewis. 

Coram . 

Suffolk. 

Corbettsville . 

Broome. 

Corfu  . 

Genesee. 

Corinth . 

Saratoga. 

Corning  . 

Steuben. 

Cornwall . 

Orange. 

Cornwallville . 

Greene. 

Cortlandt . 

Cortlandt. 

Cortlandt  Village  . . 

Cortlandt. 

County  Line  . 

Niagara. 

Coventry . 

Chenango. 

Coventryvilie . 

Chenango. 

<  invert . 

Seneca. 

Coveville . 

Saratoga. 

Covington  . 

Wyoming. 

Cowlesville . 

Wyoming. 

Coxsackie  . 

Greene. 

Craigsville  . 

Orange. 

Crain’s  Corners  .... 

Herkimer. 

Cranberry  Creek  . . . 

Fulton. 

Cranesville . 

Montgomery. 

Crawford . 

Orange. 

Croghan  . 

Lewis. 

Cross  River . 

Westchester. 

Croton . 

Delaware. 

Croton  Falls  . 

Westchester. 

Croton  Landing. . . . 

Westchester. 

Crown  Point  . 

Essex. 

Crum  Elbow . 

Dutchess. 

Crary’s  Mills  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Cruso  . 

Seneca. 

Cuba . 

Allegany. 

Cuddebackville  .... 

Orange. 

Cutchogue  . 

Suffolk. 

Cuyler . 

Cortlandt. 

Cuylerville  . 

Livingston. 

Dale . 

Wyoming. 

Danby . 

Tompkins. 

Dannemora . 

Clinton. 

Dansvitle . 

Livingston. 

Danube . 

Herkimer. 

Darien . 

Genesee. 

Darien  Center . 

Genesee. 

Davenport . 

Delaware. 

Davenport  Center  . . 

Delaware. 

Day  . 

Saratoga. 

Dayton . 

Dean’s  Corners . 

Cattaraugus. 

Saratoga. 

Deansville  . 

Oneida. 

Decatur . 

Otsego. 

Deepikill . 

Rensselaer. 

Deer  River . 

Lewis. 

De  Friestville . 

Rensselaer. 

De  Kalb  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Delavan  . 

Cattaraugus. 

De  Lancy . 

Madison. 

Delaware  Bridge  . . . 

Sullivan. 

Delhi  . 

Delaware. 

Delphi . 

Onondaga. 

Delta . 

Oneida. 

Denmark . 

Lewis. 

Dennison’s  Corners 

Herkimer. 

Denning  . 

Ulster. 

Depauville . 

Jefferson. 

De  Peyster . 

St.  Lawrence 

Deposit . 

Delaware. 

De  Ruyter  . 

Madison. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Devereaux . 

Herkimer. 

De  Witt  . 

Onondaga. 

De  Wittville  . 

Chautauque. 

Jefferson. 

Lewis. 

Diana . 

Dickinson  . 

Franklin. 

Dix  Hills . 

Suffolk. 

JDoanesburgh . 

Putnam. 

iDobb’s  Ferry . 

Westchester. 

;Dormansville . 

(Doty’s  Corner . 

Albany. 

Steuben. 

!  Dover  . 

Dutchess. 

Dryden . 

Tompkins. 

i  Duane . 

Franklin. 

Duanesburgh . 

Schenectady. 

Dugway  . 

Oswego. 

Dundee . 

Yates. 

Dunkirk  . 

Chautauque. 

Dunnsville  . 

Albany. 

Durham  . 

Greene. 

Durham  ville  . 

Oneida. 

Eagle . 

Wyoming. 

Eagle  Harbor . 

Orleans. 

Eagle  Mills . 

Rensselaer. 

Eagle  Village . 

Wyoming. 

Earlville  . 

Madison. 

East  Aurora . 

Erie. 

East  Avon  . 

Livingston. 

East  Bergen . 

Genesee. 

East  Berne  . 

Albany. 

East  Bethany . 

Genesee. 

East  Bloomfield. . . . 

Ontario. 

East  Branch . 

Delaware. 

East  Canisteo . 

Steuben. 

East  Carlton  . 

Orleans. 

East  Chatham . 

Columbia. 

East  Chester  . 

Westchester. 

East  China . 

Wyoming. 

East  Clarkson . 

Monroe. 

East  Cobleskill  .... 

Schoharie. 

East  Constable  .... 

Franklin. 

East  Cutchogue  .... 

Suffolk. 

East  Durham . 

Greene. 

East  Evans . 

Erie. 

East  Florence . 

Oneida. 

East  Freetown  .... 

Cortlandt. 

East  Gaiues . 

Orleans. 

East  Galway . 

Saratoga. 

East  Genoa . 

Cayuga. 

East  German . 

Chenango. 

East  Glenville . 

Schenectady. 

East  Grafton  . 

Rensselaer. 

East  Greenbush .... 

Rensselaer. 

East  Greene . 

Chenango. 

East  Greenwich .... 

Washington. 

East  Groveland  .... 

Livingston. 

East  Guilford . 

Chenango. 

East  Hamburg . 

Erie. 

East  Hamilton . 

Madison. 

East  Hampton . 

Suffolk. 

East  Hill . 

Allegany. 

East  Homer . 

Cortlandt. 

East  Hounsfield  . . . . 

Jefferson. 

East  Java . 

Wyoming. 

East  Kill . 

Greene. 

East  Koy . 

A  vcmiug. 

East  Lansing . 

Tompkins. 

East  Leon . 

Cattaraugus. 

East  Lexington  . . . . 

Greene. 

East  Line . 

Saratoga. 

East  Macdonough . . 

Chenango. 

East  Maine . 

Broome. 

Eastmansville . 

Fulton. 

East  Moriches . 

Suffolk. 

East  Nassau . 

Rensselaer. 

East  New  York  . ... 

Kings. 

Post-Offices. 


East  Norwich . 

Easton . 

East  Orangeville  . . . 

East  Otto . 

East  Painted  Post  . . 

East  Palmyra . 

East  Pembroke  .... 

East  Peru . 

East  Pharsalia . 

East  Pierpont . 

East  Pike . 

East  Pitcairn . 

East  Randolph  .... 

East  Rodman . 

East  Salem  . ; . 

East  Sand  Lake .... 

East  Schuyler . 

East  Solon . 

East  Springfield. . . . 
East  Springwater. . . 

East  Varick . 

East  Virgil  . . 

East  Windham  .... 
East  Worcester  .... 

Eaton . . 

Eatonville . 

Eddyville . 

Eden . 

Edenton . 

Eden  Valley . 

Edenville . 

Edgecomb’s  Corners 

Edinburgh . 

Edinburgh  Center. . 

Edmeston . 

Edwards . 

Edwardsville . 

Egypt . 

Elba . 

El  bridge . 

Eleysville . 

Elgin . 

Elizabethtown . 

Elizaville . 

Ellenburgh . 

Ellenville . 

Ellery . 

Ellicott  Creek . 

Ellicottsvilie . 

Ellington . 

Ellisburgh . 

Elliston  . 

Elmira . 

Elton . 

Elwood’s  Bridge . . . . 

Eminence . 

Enfield . 

Enfield  Center . 

Enginville . 

Ephratah . 

Erieville  . 

Erin  . 

Erwin  Center . 

Esopus . 

Esperance  . 

Essex . 

Etna . 

Euclid . 

Evans  . 

Evansville . 

Exeter . 

Fnbius . 

Factory  ville . 

Fairfield  . 

Fair  Mount . 

Fairport . 

Fairview . 


51 


Counties. 


Queens. 

Washington. 

Wyoming. 

Cattaraugus. 

Steuben. 

Wayne. 

Genesee. 

Clinton. 

Chenango. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Wyoming. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Cattaraugus. 

Jefferson. 

Washington. 

Rensselaer. 

Herkimer. 

Cortlandt. 

Otsego. 

Livingston. 

Seneca. 

Cortlandt. 

Greene. 

Otsego. 

Madison. 

Herkimer. 

Cattaraugus. 

Erie. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Erie. 

Orange. 

Saratoga. 

Saratoga. 

Saratoga. 

Otsego. 

St.  Lawrence. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Monroe. 

Genesee. 

Onondaga. 

Erie. 

Cattaraugus. 

Essex. 

Columbia. 

Clinton. 

Ulster. 

Chautauque. 

Erie. 

Cattaraugus. 

Chautauque. 

Jefferson. 

Onondaga. 

Chemung. 

Cattaraugus. 

Delaware. 

Schoharie. 

Tompkins. 

Tompkins. 

Schoharie. 

Fulton. 

Madison. 

Chemung. 

Steuben. 

Ulster. 

Schoharie. 

Essex. 

Tompkins. 

( mondaga. 
Erie. 
Jefferson. 
Otsego. 

Onondaga. 

Tioga. 

Herkimer. 

Onondaga. 

Chemung. 

Cattaraugus. 


402 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Wayne. 

Sullivan. 

Seneca. 

Dutchess. 

Farmer’s  Mills . 

Putnam. 

Cattaraugus. 

Queens. 

Orleans. 

Ontario. 

Clinton. 

Seneca. 

Onondaga. 

Dutchess. 

Jefferson. 

Madison. 

Ferguson’s  Corners  . 

Yates. 

Orange. 

Suffolk. 

Fishkill . 

Dutchess. 

Allegany. 

Dutchess. 

Dutchess. 

Cayuga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Fishkill  Lauding . . . 
Fishkill  Plains . 

Suffolk. 

Columbia. 

Flatbush . 

Kings. 

Montgomery. 

Kings. 

Cayuga. 

Tioga. 

Ontario. 

Oneida. 

Flint  Creek . 

Florence . 

Orange. 

Oneida. 

Floyd . 

Queens. 

Chautauque. 

Ulster. 

Fly  Mountain . 

Fonda  . 

Montgomery. 

Westchester. 

Forestburgh . 

Sullivan. 

Forest  City . 

Tompkins. 

Washington. 

Franklin. 

Washington. 

Washington. 

Kings. 

Montgomery. 

Washington. 

Montgomery. 

Saratoga. 

Fort  Covington  .... 
Fort  Edward . 

Fort  Edward  Center 

Fort  Hamilton . 

Fort  Hunter . 

Fort  Miller . 

Fort  Plain . 

Cayuga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Fowlersville . - 

Livingston. 

Herkimer. 

Frankfort  Hill  . 

Herkimer. 

Delaware. 

Franklin  Furnace  . . 

Franklin. 

U  lster. 

Franklinton . 

Schoharie. 

Cattaraugus. 

Chautauque. 

Cattaraugus. 

Dutchess. 

Freedom . 

Freedom  Plains  . . . . 

Freetown  Corners  . . 
Fremont  . 

Cortlandt. 

Sullivan. 

Chautauque. 

Warren. 

Chautauque. 

Montgomery. 

Allegany. 

French  Mountain  .. 

Freysbush  . 

Friendship . 

Frontier  . 

F allersville  Iron 
Works . 

Fulton . 

Oswego. 

I  Schoharie. 

Fultonham . 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Fultonville . 

Montgomery. 

Gaines . 

Orleans. 

Gainesville . 

Wyoming. 

Gales  . 

Sullivan. 

Galesville . 

Washington. 

Gallatinville . 

Columbia. 

Gallupville . 

Schoharie. 

Galway . 

Saratoga. 

Gansevoort . 

Saratoga. 

Gardnersville . 

Schoharie. 

Garoga . 

Fulton. 

Garrattsville . 

Otsego. 

Gates . 

Monroe. 

Gay  Head . 

Greene. 

Geddes . 

Onondaga. 

Genegantslet  . 

Chenango. 

Genesee  Valley  .... 

Allegany. 

Geneseo  . 

Livingston. 

Geneva . 

Ontario. 

Genoa  . 

Cayuga. 

Georgetown . 

Madison. 

German  . 

Chenango. 

Germantown  . 

Columbia. 

Gerry  . 

Chautauque. 

Ghent  . 

Columbia. 

Gibson . 

Steuben. 

Gibson’s  Corners  . . . 

Tioga. 

Gibsonville . 

Livingston. 

Gilbert’s  Mills . 

Oswego. 

Gilbertsville . 

Otsego. 

Gilboa  . 

Schoharie. 

Gilman . 

Hamilton. 

Glasco  . 

Ulster. 

Glen  . 

Montgomery. 

Glen  Cove  . 

Queens. 

Glenham  . 

Dutchess. 

Glenn’s  Falls  .... 

Warren. 

Glenmore  . 

Oneida. 

Glenwood  . 

Erie. 

Glenvilla  . 

Schenectady. 

Glenwild  . 

Sullivan. 

Gloversville . 

Fulton. 

Goff’s  Mills . 

Steuben. 

Good  Ground  .... 

Suffolk. 

Gorham  . 

Ontario. 

Goshen . 

Orange. 

Gouverneur . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Golden’s  Bridge .... 

Westchester. 

Gowanda  (late  Per- 

sia)  . . 

Cattaraugus. 

Grafton . . 

Rensselaer. 

Grahamsville  .... 

Sullivan. 

Granger  . 

Allegany. 

Grangerville  .... 

Saratoga. 

Granville  . 

Washington. 

Gravesend  . 

Kings. 

Gravesville . 

Herkimer. 

Great  Bend . 

Jefferson. 

Great  Valley . 

Cattaraugus. 

Greece . 

Monroe. 

Greenborough . 

Oswego. 

Greenbush . 

Rensselaer. 

Greene . 

Chenango. 

|  Greenfield  Center  .. 

Saratoga. 

Greenpoint . 

Kings. 

Greenport . 

Suffolk. 

Green  ltiver  . 

Columbia. 

Green’s  Corners. . . . 

Oneida. 

Greenville  . 

Greene. 

Greenwich . 

Washington. 

Greenwood . 

Steuben. 

Greigsville  . 

Livingston. 

Griffin’s  Mills . 

Erie. 

Griswold’s  Mills.... 

Washington. 

Groom’s  Corner. . . . 

Saratoga. 

Groton . 

Tompkins. 

Groton  City . 

Tompkins. 

Po8t-Officea. 

Counties. 

Grove  . 

Allegany. 

Groveland  . 

Livingston. 

Groveland  Center  . . 

Livingston. 

Grovenor’s  Corners 

Schoharie. 

Guilderland . 

Albany. 

Guilderland  Center 

Albany. 

Guilford  . 

Chenango. 

Guilford  Center .... 

Chenango. 

Gypsum  . 

Ontario. 

Hadley . 

Saratoga. 

Haerlem  . 

New  York. 

Hagaman’s  Mills  . . 

Montgomery. 

Hague  . 

Warren. 

Hale’s  Eddy  . 

Broome. 

Half  Moon  . 

Saratoga. 

Hall’s  Corners  . 

Ontario. 

Hall’s  Mills . 

Albany. 

Hallsville . 

Montgomery. 

Halsey  Valley . 

Tioga. 

Hamburgh . 

Erie. 

Hamburgh  on  the 
Lake . 

Erie. 

Hamden  . 

Delaware. 

Hamilton . 

Madison. 

Hamlet . 

Chautauque. 

Hammond  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Hammond’s  Mills  . . 

Steuben. 

Hampton . 

Washington. 

Hamptonburgh  .... 

Orange. 

Hancock . 

Delaware. 

Hanford’s  Landing 

Monroe. 

Hannibal . 

Oswego. 

Hannibal  Center. . . . 

Oswego. 

Hanover . 

Chautauque. 

Harl  Lot . 

Onondaga. 

Harford  . 

Cortlandt. 

Harlem  ville . 

Columbia. 

Harmony . 

Chautauque. 

Harpersfield  . 

Delaware. 

Harpersville . 

Broome. 

Harriettown  . 

Franklin. 

Harrisburgh  . 

Lewis. 

Harris’  Hill . 

Erie. 

Harrison . 

Westchester. 

Hartfield . 

Chautauque. 

Hartford  . 

Washington. 

Hartland . 

Niagara. 

Hart’s  Village . 

Dutchess. 

Hartsville  . 

Onondaga. 

Hartwick . 

Otsego. 

Hartwick  Seminary 

Otsego. 

Hartwood  . 

Sullivan. 

Harvard  . 

Delaware. 

Hasbrouck . 

Sullivan. 

Haskenville . 

Steuben. 

Hastings . 

Oswego. 

Hastings  upon  Hud¬ 
son  . 

Westchester. 

Havanna . 

Chemung. 

Haverstraw . 

Rockland. 

Haviland  Hollow  . . 

Putnam. 

Hawleyton . 

Broome. 

Hebron . 

Washington. 

Hecla  Works . 

Oneida. 

Hector . 

Tompkins. 

Helderburgh . 

Albany. 

Helena . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Hemlock  Lake  . . . . 

Livingston. 

Hempstead . 

Queens. 

Hempstead  Branch 

Queens. 

!  Henderson . 

Jefferson. 

Herkimer  . 

Herkimer. 

Hermitage  . 

Wyoming. 

Hermon  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Hess  Road  . 

Niagara. 

^Heuvelton  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


403 


Post-Officea. 


Counties. 


Hibernia  . 

Hickory  Corners. . . 

Higginsville . 

High  Falls  . 

Highland  Mills  ... 

High  Market . 

Hillsboro’  . 

Hillsdale . 

Hindsburgh . 

Hinmansville . 

Hinsdale . 

Hizerville . 

Hoag’s  Corner  . . . 

Hobart . 

Hobbieville . 

Hoffman’s  Ferry. . . 
Hoffman’s  Gate  . . . 

Hogansburgh . 

Holland  . 

Holland  Patent  . . . 

Holley . 

Homer . . 

Honeoye . 

Hcneoye  Falls  . . . 

Hoosick  . 

Hoosick  Falls  ... 

Hope  . 

Hope  Center  . 

Hope  Falls . 

Hopewell  . 

Hopkinton . 

Horicon  . 

Hornby . 

Hornellsville  . 

Houseville  . 

Howard  . 

Howell’s  Depot  . . . 

Howlet  Hill . 

Hubbard's  Corners 

Hudson  . 

Hughsonville . 

Huguenot  . 

Hul  burton  . 

Hull’s  Corners  . . . 

Hull’s  Mills . 

Hume  . 

Hunter . 

Hunter’s  Land  ... 

Huntington . 

Hunt’s  Hollow  ... 

Hurley . 

Huron . 

Hyde  . 

Hyde  Park . . 

Hyde  Settlement 
Hyndsville . 


Dutchess. 

Niagara. 

Oneida. 

Ulster. 

Orange. 

Lewis. 

Oneida. 

Columbia. 

Orleans. 

Oswego. 

Cattaraugus. 

Oneida. 

Rensselaer. 

Delaware. 

Allegany. 

Schenectady. 

Columbia. 

Franklin. 

Erie. 

Oneida. 

Orleans. 

Cortland  t. 

Ontario. 

Monroe. 

Rensselaer. 

Rensselaer. 

Hamilton. 

Hamilton. 

Hamilton. 

Ontario. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Warren. 

Steuben. 

Steuben. 

Lewis. 

Steuben. 

Orange. 

Onondaga. 

Madison. 

Columbia. 

Dutchess. 

Orange. 

Orleans. 

Oswego. 

Dutchess. 

Allegany. 

Greene. 

Schoharie. 

Suffolk. 

Allegany. 

Ulster. 

Wayne. 

Warren. 

Dutchess. 

Broome. 

Schoharie. 


Ilion . 

Independence . 

Indian  River  . 

Ira . 

Ireland  Corners  . . . . 

Irondequoit . 

Irving  . 

Islip . 

Italy  Hill . 

Italy  Hollow  . 

Ithaca  . 


Herkimer. 

Allegany. 

Lewis. 

Cayuga. 

Albany. 

Monroe. 

Chautauque. 

Suffolk. 

Yates. 

Yates. 

Tompkins. 


Jackson  . 

Jacksonburgh  . . . . 
Jackson  Corners. . . . 

Jacksonville  . 

Jack’s  Reef . 

Jamaica  . 

Jamesport  . 

Jamestown . 


Washington. 

Herkimer. 

Dutchess. 

Tompkins. 

Onondaga. 

Queens. 

Suffolk. 

Chautauque. 


Post-Offices. 


Counties. 


Jamesville  . 

Janesville  (late 

Blockville) . 

Jasper  . 

Java . 

Java  Village  . 

Jay  . 

Jeddo  . . 

Jefferson . 

Jefferson  Valley. . . . 

Jeffersonville . 

Jericho . 

Jerusalem  . 

Jerusalem  South  . . 

Jewett . 

Johnsburgh . 

Johnsonsburgh  . . . . 
Johnson’s  Creek . . . . 

Johnstown  . 

Jonesville  . 

Jordan  . 

Jordanville . 

Joy  . 

Junction  . 

Junius . 


Kusoag . 

Kattelville  .... 

Keene  . 

Keeney’s  Settlement 

Keeseville  . 

Kelloggsville . 

Kendall  . 

Kendall  Mills . 

Kennedysville  .... 

Keusico  . 

Kent . 

Ketch  am’s  Corners 

Kill  Buck  . 

Kinderhook  . 

Kingsboro’ . 

Kingsbridge  . 

Kingsbury  . 

King’s  Ferry  . 

King’s  Settlement.. 

Kingston . 

Kinney’s  4  Corners 

Kirkland . 

Kirkville . 

Kirkwood  . 

Kiskatom  . 

Knowersville . 

Knowlesville . 

Knox  . 

Knox  Corners  . . . 

Kortright . 

Kyserike . 

Kyserville  . 


Lackawack . 

Lafarge  ville . 

Lafayette . 

Lafayette  ville. . . . 

La  Grange . . 

Lairdsville . 

Lake . 

Lakeland . 

Lake  Pleasant  . . 

Lakeport . 

Lake  Ridge . 

Lakeville . 

Lancaster  ...... 

Lamsons . 

Lansiugburgh  . . 
Lansingville 

Laoni  . 

Lapeer . 

Larned’s  Corners 


Onondaga. 

Chautauque. 

Steuben. 

Wyoming. 

Wyoming. 

Essex. 

Orleans. 

Schoharie. 

Westchester. 

Sullivan. 

Queens. 

Yates. 

Queens. 

Greene. 

Warren. 

Wyoming. 

Niagara. 

Fulton. 

Saratoga. 

Onondaga. 

Herkimer. 

Wayne. 

Rensselaer. 

Seneca. 

Oswego. 

Broome. 

Essex. 

Cortlandt. 

Essex. 

Cayuga. 

Orleans. 

Orleans. 

Steuben. 

Westchester. 

Putnam. 

Saratoga. 

Cattaraugus. 

Columbia. 

Fulton. 

New  York. 

Washington. 

Cayuga. 

(Chenango. 

Ulster. 

Oswego. 

Oneida. 

Onondaga. 

Broome. 

Greene. 

Albany. 

Orleans. 

Albany. 

Oneida. 

Delaware. 

Ulster. 

Livingston. 

Ulster. 

Jefferson. 

Onondaga. 

Dutchess. 

Wyoming. 

Oneida. 

Washington. 

Suffolk. 

Hamilton. 

Madison. 

Tompkins. 

Livingston. 

Erie. 

Onondaga. 

Rensselaer. 

Tompkins. 

Chautauque. 

Cortlandt. 

Ontario. 


Post-Officea. 

Counties. 

Lassellsville  . 

Fulton. 

Laurens  . 

Otsego. 

Lawrenceville  . . . . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Lawyersville . 

Schoharie. 

Lebanon  . 

Madison. 

Ledyard  . 

Cayuga. 

Lee  . 

Oneida. 

Leeds  . 

Greene. 

Leedsville  . 

Dutchess. 

Leesville . 

Schoharie. 

Lenox  . 

Madison. 

Leon  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Leonardsville . 

Madison. 

Le  Rayeville . 

Jefferson. 

Le  Roy . 

Genesee. 

Levanna  . 

Cayuga. 

Levant . 

Chautauque. 

Lewis  . 

Essex. 

Lewisboro’ . 

Westchester. 

Lewiston . 

Niagara. 

Lexington  . 

Greene. 

Lexington  Heights 

Greene. 

Leyden . 

Lewis. 

Liberty . 

Sullivan. 

Liberty  ville . 

Ulster. 

Liberty  Falls . 

Sullivan. 

Lima  . 

Livingston. 

Limestone . 

Cattaraugus. 

Limerick . 

Jefferson. 

Linden . 

Genesee. 

Lindleytown  . 

Steuben. 

Linklacn . 

Chenango. 

Lisbon . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Lisbon  Center . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Lisha’s  Kill . 

Albany. 

Lisle . 

Broome. 

Litchfield . 

Herkimer. 

Lithgow  . 

Dutchess. 

Little  Britain . 

Orange. 

Little  Falls . 

Herkimer. 

Little  Genesee . 

Allegany. 

Little  Rest . 

Dutchess. 

Little  Sod  us  . 

Cayuga. 

Little  Valley  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Little  York . 

Cortlandt. 

Liverpool . 

Onondaga. 

Livingston  . 

Columbia. 

Livingstonville  .... 

Schoharie. 

Little  Utica . 

Onondaga. 

Livonia  . 

Livingston. 

Locke  . 

Cayuga. 

Lock  Berlin  . 

Wayne. 

Lockport . 

Niagara. 

Locust  Tree . 

Niagara. 

Lodi . 

Seneca. 

Lodi  Center . 

Seneca. 

Logan  . 

Tompkins. 

Lorraine . 

Jefferson. 

Louisville  . 

St.  Lawrence, 

Louisville  Landing 

St.  Lawrence. 

Lowell . 

Oneida. 

Low  Hampton  .... 

Washington. 

Low  ville . 

Lewis. 

Low’s  Corner . 

Sullivan. 

Loyd . 

Ulster. 

Ludlow  ville  . 

Tompkins. 

Lumberland  . 

Sullivan. 

Luzerne  . 

Warren. 

Lyndonville  . 

Orleans. 

Lyons  . 

Wayne. 

Lyon’s  Hollow . 

Steuben. 

Lyonsdale . 

Lewis. 

Lysander . 

Onondaga. 

McConnellsville  .... 

Oneida. 

McDonough . 

Chenango. 

VIcGrawsville . 

Cortlandt. 

McLean . 

Tompkins. 

404 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Post-Officee. 

Counties. 

Middleport . 

Niagara. 

Yates. 

Orange. 

Murray . 

Orleans. 

Macedon . 

Macedon  Center. . . . 

Wayne. 

Wayne. 

Middlesex . 

Middletown . 

Nanticoke  Springs. . 

Broome. 

Cattaraugus. 

Middletown  Center. 

Delaware. 

Nanuet . 

Rockland. 

Middleville . 

Herkimer. 

Napanock  . 

Ulster. 

Madison. 

Milan . 

Dutchess. 

Naples . 

Ontario. 

Middle  Village  .... 
Mil  lord . 

Queens. 

Napoli . 

Cattaraugus. 

Sullivan. 

Otsego. 

Otsego. 

Jefferson. 

Chautauque. 

Milford  Center . 

Nashville . 

Chautauque. 

Rensselaer. 

Military  Road . . 

Nassau . 

Ulster. 

Milieu’s  Bay  . 

Jefferson. 

Natural  Bridge . 

Jefferson. 

Malden  Bridge  _ 

Columbia. 

Miller’s  Place . 

Onondaga. 

Madison. 

Mill  Grove . 

Erie. 

Nelson . 

Saratoga. 

Saratoga. 

Mills’  Mills . 

Allegany. 

Chemung. 

Fulton. 

Westchester. 

Millport  . 

Sullivan. 

Mills’  Corners . 

Cattaraugus. 

Wayne. 

Tioga. 

Greene. 

Milltown . 

Millville  . 

iNewark  Valley  .... 
New  Ballimore  .... 

Manchester  Bridge  . 

Dutchess. 

Milo . 

Yates. 

Manchester  Center  . 

Milo  Center . 

Chenango. 

Chenango. 

Lewis. 

Onondaga. 
New  Fork. 
Queens. 

Milton . 

New  Berlin  Center 

Manhattanville  .... 

Mina . 

Chautauque. 

Montgomery. 

Schoharie. 

Minaville . 

New  Brighton _ 

New  Britain . 

Richmond. 

Manheim  . 

Mine  Kill  Falls  . . . . 

Columbia. 

Manheim  Center  . . . 

Herkimer. 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga. 

Minden . 

Montgomery. 

Orange. 

W  estch  ester. 

Mindenville . 

Minerva  . 

Columbia. 

Minetto . 

Oswego. 

Orange. 

Allegany. 

Ulster. 

Columbia. 

Herkimer. 

Niagara. 

Tompkins. 

Herkimer. 

Dutchess. 

Suffolk. 

Cattaraugus. 

Otsego. 

Cortlandt. 

Ulster. 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga. 

Oneida. 

Wayne. 

Minisink . 

Mansfield . 

Mixville  . 

New  Graefenburg  . . 
New  Hackensack. . . 
New  Hamburgh  . . . 
New  Hampton  .... 

Moltit’s  Store . 

Dutchess. 

Marbletown . 

Mohawk . 

Moira  . 

Orange. 

Oneida. 

Marcell  us  Falls  .... 

Mongaup . 

Oswego. 

Ulster. 

Fulton. 

Marcy  . 

Mongaup  Valley  ... 
Monroe . 

Sullivan. 

Orange. 

Orange. 

New  Hurley  . 

Newkirk’s  Mills _ 

Monroe  W  orks  .... 

Columbia. 

Schenectady. 

Onondaga. 

Wayne. 

Ulster. 

Monsey . 

New  LebanonCenter 
New  Leb’n  Springs 

New  Lisbon  . 

New  London . 

Columbia. 

Marietta  . 

Marion . 

Marlboro’ . 

Monterey . 

Montezuma . 

Montgomery  . 

Dutchess. 

Cayuga. 

Orange. 

Columbia. 

Otsego. 

Oneida. 

Oneida. 

Monticello  . 

Orange. 

Broome. 

Moores . 

Martinsburgh . 

Moore’s  Forks . 

New  Paltz  . 

Ulster. 

Martinsville . 

Martin’s  Hill  . 

Niagara. 

Chemung. 

Cayuga. 

Otsego. 

Chautauque. 

Delaware. 

Moravia  . 

Moreau  Station  .... 

Cayuga. 

Saratoga. 

Saratoga. 

New  Paltz  Landing 
New  Port . 

Ulster. 

Herkimer. 

Moreau  . 

Delaware. 

Maryland  . 

Morehouseville  .... 

Westchester. 

Marvin . 

Moreland . 

Chemung. 

Essex. 

Albany. 

Albany. 

Erie. 

Massena  . 

Morgansville  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Dutchess. 

Suffolk 

Moriah . 

Moriches . 

Suffolk. 

Mattituck . 

M  oringville . 

Fulton. 

Fulton. 

Chautauque. 

Saratoga. 

Tompkins. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Otsego. 

Queen3. 

Albany. 

Kings. 

Orange. 

Suffolk. 

Morrisania . 

Mecklinburgh . 

Medina . 

Morristown . 

Morrisville . 

St.  Lawrence. 

New  Vernon  . 

Medusa . 

Albany. 

Greene. 

Morse ville  . 

Herkimer. 

Medway  . 

Morbid':.  ■  c-r'e  -  . . 

Erie. 

New  Windsor . 

Orange. 

Columbia. 

Monroe. 

Cayuga. 

Delaware. 

Queens. 

Mortonville . 

Orange. 

Livingston. 

Westchester. 

Tompkins. 

Onondaga. 

Niagara. 

Orange. 

New  Woodstock  . . 
New  York  City  .... 
New  York  Mills.... 
Niagara  Falls . 

Meridian . 

Motthaven . 

Meredith . 

Merrick . 

Mott’s  Corners  .... 

Niagara. 

Tioga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Merrillsville . 

Mount  Cambria. . . . 

Messina  Springs. . . . 
Mexico . 

Onondaga. 

Oswego. 

Mount  Hope  . 

Mount  Kisco . 

Nile  . 

Allegany. 

Cayuga. 

Cayuga. 

Middleburgh  . 

Mount  Morris . 

Livingston. 

Saratoga. 

Suffolk. 

Chenango. 

Otsego. 

Middlebury . 

Wyoming. 

Otsego. 

Otsego. 

Washington. 

Saratoga. 

Orange. 

Suffolk. 

Mount  Pleasant .... 

Middlefield . 

Middlefleld  Center. . 

Mount  Sinai . 

Mount  Upton  . 

Niskayuna . 

Schenectady. 

Middle  Granville  . . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Middle  Grove  . 

Mount  Washington 

Mud  Creek . 

Mumford . 

Jefferson. 

Middle  Hope  . 

Middle  Island . 

Steuben. 

Monroe. 

North  Almond  .... 
Northampton . 

Allegany. 

Fulton. 

POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


405 


Post-Offices. 


North  Argyle . 

North  Bangor . 

North  Bay  . 

North  Bergen . 

North  Blenheim. . .. 
North  Bloomfield  .. 

North  Boston . 

North  Bridgewater 
North  Broadalbin  .. 
North  Brookfield  . . 
North  Cambridge  .. 
North  Cameron  .... 

North  Castle  . 

North  Chatham.... 
North  Chemung  . . . 

North  Chili . 

North  Clarence  .... 
North  Clarkson  .... 

North  Clymer . 

North  Cohocton. . . . 
North  Duanesburg 

North  East . 

Northeast  Center  . . 

North  Easton . 

North  Elba . 

North  Evans  . 

North  Franklin  .... 

North  Gage . 

North  Galway . 

North  Granville .... 
North  Greenwich  . . 
North  Guilford  .... 
North  Hamden  .... 
North  Harpersfield 
North  Haverstraw.. 
North  Hebron  .... 

North  Hector . 

North  Hempstead.. 

North  Hoosie . 

North  Hudson . 

North  Java  . 

North  Kortright. . .. 
North  Lansing  .... 
North  Lawrence  .. 
North  Linklean  .... 
North  Middlesex  .. 
North  Norwich  .... 
North  Perrysburg  . . 

Northport  . 

North  Potsdam  .... 
North  Reading  .... 
North  Ridgeway  .. 

North  Russell . 

North  Salem  . 

North  Sheldon  .... 

North  Shore  . 

North  Sparta . 

North  Stephentown 
North  Sterling  .... 
North  Tarrytown  . . 
Northumberland  . . 

North  Urbana . 

Northville  . 

North  Western  .... 
North  Wethersfield 
North  White  Creek 
North  Wilna  .... 

Norton  Hill . 

Norton’s  Mills  . . 

Norway . 

Norwich . 

Nunda . 

Nyack . 

Nyack  Turnpike  . 

oakfleld . 

Oak  Hill . 

Oakland . 


Counties. 


W  ashington. 

Franklin. 

Oneida. 

Genesee. 

Schoharie. 

Ontario. 

Erie. 

ODeida. 

Fulton. 

Madison. 

Washington. 

Steuben. 

Westchester. 

Columbia. 

Chemung. 

Monroe. 

Erie. 

Monroe. 

Chautauque. 

Steuben. 

Schenectady. 

Dutchess. 

Dutchess. 

Washington. 

Essex. 

Erie. 

Delaware. 

Oneida. 

Saratoga. 

Washington. 

Washington. 

Chenango. 

Delaware. 

Delaware. 

Rockland. 

Washington. 

Tompkins. 

Queens. 

liensselaer. 

Essex. 

Wyoming. 

Delaware. 

Tompkins. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Chenango. 

Yates. 

Chenango. 

Cattaraugus. 

Suffolk. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Steuben. 

Orleans. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Westchester. 

Wyoming. 

Richmond. 

Livingston. 

Rensselaer. 

Cayuga. 

Westchester. 

Saratoga. 

Steuben. 

Fulton. 

Oneida. 

Wyoming. 

Washington. 

Jefferson. 

Greene. 

Ontario. 

Herkimer. 

Chenango. 

Livingston. 

Rockland. 

Rockland. 

Genesee. 

Greene. 

Livingston. 


Post -Offices. 

Counties. 

Oak  Orchard . 

Orleans. 

Oak  Point  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Oak’s  Corners . 

Ontario. 

Oaksville . 

Otsego. 

O’Connelville . 

Monroe. 

Ogdensburgh . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Ogden . 

Monroe. 

Ohio  . 

Herkimer. 

Olcott  . 

Niagara. 

Olean  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Olive . 

Ulster. 

Olive  Bridge  . 

Ulster. 

Omar  . 

Jefferson. 

Oneida  Castle . 

Oneida. 

Oneida  Depot . 

Madison. 

Oneida  Lake . 

Madison. 

Oneida  Valley  _ 

Madison. 

Oneouta  . 

Otsego. 

Onondaga  . 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga  Castle  . . 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga  Hollow.. 

Onondaga. 

Ontario . 

Wayne. 

Oppenheim . 

Fulton. 

Oran . 

Onondaga. 

Orange . 

Steuben. 

Orange  Port  . 

Niagara. 

Orangeville . 

Wyoming. 

Oregon . 

Chautauque. 

Orient  . 

Suffolk. 

Oriskany . 

Oneida. 

Oriskany  Falls  .... 

Oneida. 

Orleans  . 

Ontario. 

Orleans  4  Comers. . 

Jefferson. 

Orwell . 

Oswego. 

Osborn’s  Bridge .... 

Fulton. 

Osborn  Hollow  .... 

Broome. 

Ossian . 

Allegany. 

Oswego  . 

Oswego. 

Oswego  Falls . 

Oswego. 

Oswego  Village.... 

Dutchess. 

Otego  . 

Otsego. 

Otisco  . 

Onondaga. 

Otisville  . 

Orange. 

Otsdawa . 

Otsego. 

Otselic . 

Chenango. 

Otto . 

Cattaraugus. 

Ouleout  . 

Delaware. 

Ovid . 

Seneca. 

Owasco  . 

Cayuga. 

O  wasco  Lake . 

Cayuga. 

Owego . 

Tioga. 

Oxbow . 

Jefferson. 

Oxford . 

Chenango. 

Oxford  Depot . 

Orange. 

Oyster  Bay . 

Queens. 

Page’s  Corners  .... 

Herkimer. 

Paine’s  Hollow  .... 

Herkimer. 

Painted  Post  . 

Steuben. 

Palatine  . 

Montgomery. 

Palatine  Bridge. . . . 

Montgomery. 

Palenville  . 

Greene. 

Palermo  . 

Oswego. 

Palmyra  . 

Wayne. 

Pamelia  4  Corners. . 

Jefferson. 

Panama  . 

Chautauque. 

Papakunk  . 

Delaware. 

Paris  . 

Oneida. 

Paris  Furnace . 

Oneida. 

Parish  . 

Oswego. 

!  Parish ville  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Parksville  . 

Sullivan. 

Parma . 

Monroe. 

Parma  Center . 

Monroe. 

Partridge  Island. . . . 

Delaware. 

Patchin  . 

Erie. 

Patch  in's  Mills  .... 

Steuben. 

Patchogue  . 

Suffolk. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Patten’s  Mills . 

Washington. 

Putnam. 

Patterson . 

Pauling . 

Dutchess. 

Pavilion  . 

Genesee. 

Pavilion  Center  .... 
Peasleeville . 

Genesee. 

Clinton. 

Pecks  ville  . 

Dutchess. 

Peekskill . 

Westchester. 

Pekin  . 

Niagara. 

Westchester. 

Pelham  . 

Peltonville  . 

Steuben. 

Pembroke  . 

Genesee. 

Penataquit . 

Suffolk. 

Pendleton  . 

Niagara. 

Monroe. 

Penfield  . 

Pen  Yan . 

Yates. 

Peoria . 

Wyoming. 

Delaware. 

Pepacton . 

Jefferson. 

Monroe. 

Wyoming. 

Dutchess. 

Wyoming. 

Cattaraugus. 

Clinton. 

Perry’s  Corner  .... 
Perry  Center  . 

Perrysburgh  . 

Perry’s  Mills  . 

Madison. 

Perth  . 

Fulton. 

Clinton. 

Tompkins. 

Madison. 

Peterboro’  . 

Rensselaer. 

Peters  burgh  4  Cor¬ 
ners  . 

Rensselaer. 

Chenango. 

Ontario. 

Phelps . 

Jefferson. 

Sullivan. 

Philipsville . 

Allegany. 

Allegany. 

Oswego. 

Rockland. 

Philips’s  Creek  .... 

Pierrepont  Manor.. 

Jefferson. 

Livingston. 

Wyoming. 

Sullivan. 

Pike  . . 

Pike  Pond . 

Pillar  Point . 

Jefferson. 

Pine . 

Oneida. 

Pine  Bush  . 

Ulster. 

Pine  Grove . 

Steuben. 

Pine  Hill . 

Ulster. 

Pine  Plains . 

Dutchess. 

W  estchester. 

Chemung. 

Steuben. 

Pineville . 

Pinkney  . 

Lewis.  • 

St.  Lawrence. 

Chenango. 

Chenango. 

Otsego. 

Monroe. 

Pitcher  Springs  .... 
Pittsfield . 

Rensselaer. 

Otsego. 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga. 

Cattaraugus. 

Clinton. 

Pleasant  Brook  .... 
Pleasant  Plains  .... 
Pleasant  Valley  .... 

Otsego. 

Dutchess. 

Dutchess. 

Westchester. 

Jefferson. 

Plesis  . 

Chenango. 

Point  Peninsula.... 

Jefferson. 

Poland  Center . 

Chautauque. 

406 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


PoBt-Offlcea. 


Polkville . 

Pompey  . 

Pompey  Center  . 

Pond  Eddy  . 

Pond  Settlement 

Poolville . 

Pope’s  Corners  . 
Pope’s  Mills  . . . 
Poplar  Ridge  . . . 

Portageville . 

Port  Byron . 

Port  Chester  . . . 

Port  Crane . 

Porter’s  Corners. 
Port  Gibson  ... 
Port  Glasgow  . . . 

Port  Henry . 

Port  Jackson  . . . 
Port  Jefferson... 

Port  Jervis  . 

Port  Kendall  . . . 

Port  Kent  . 

Portland  . 

Port  Leyden  . . . 
Port  Ontario  . . . 
Port  Richmond  . 

Portville  . 

Post  Creek . 

Postville . 

Potsdam  . 

Potter  . 

Potter  Hill  . . 

Potter’s  Hollow  . 

Pottersville . 

Poughkeepsie. . . . 

Poughquag . 

Poundridge . 

Pittsburgh  .... 
Pratt’s  Hollow  . . 

Prattsville  . 

Preble . 

Preston . 

Preston  Hollow  . . 

Prospect  . 

Prospect  Hill  .... 

Providence . 

Pugsley’s  Depot.... 

Puitney . 

Pultneyville  . 

Pulver’s  Corners. . . . 

Purdy  Creek  . 

Purdy’s  Station .... 

Purvis . 

Putnam  . 


Counties. 


Quaker  Hill . 

Quaker  Springs.... 
Quaker  Street  . . . . 

Queensbury  . 

Quogue  . 


Rackett  River . 

Ramapo  Works. . . . 

Randolph  . 

Ransomville  . 

Rapids . 

Rathboneville  . . . . 

Raymertown . 

Raymond  ville . 

Reading  . 

Reading  Center  . . . . 

Red  Bridge . 

Red  Creek . 

Red  Falls . 

Redlield  . . 

Redford  . 

Red  Hook  . 

Red  Jacket . 


Onondaga. 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga 

Sullivan. 

Steuben. 

Mao’  on. 

Saratoga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Cayuga. 

Wyoming. 

Cayuga. 

Westchester. 

Broome. 

Saratoga. 

Ontario. 

Wayne. 

Essex. 

Montgomery. 

Suffolk. 

Orange. 

Essex. 

Essex. 

Chautauque. 

Lewis. 

Oswego. 

Richmond. 

Cattaraugus. 

Chemung. 

Herkimer. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Yates. 

Rensselaer. 

Albany. 

Warren. 

Dutchess. 

Dutchess. 

Westchester. 

Steuben. 

Madison. 

Greene. 

Cortlandt. 

Chenango. 

Albany. 

Oneida. 

Rensselaer. 

Saratoga. 

Tompkins. 

Steuben. 

Wayne. 

Dutchess. 

Steuben. 

Westchester. 

Sullivan. 

Washington. 

Dutchess. 

Saratoga. 

Schenectady. 

Warren. 

Suffolk. 

St.  Lawrence, 

Rockland. 

Cattaraugus. 

Niagara. 

Niagara. 

Steuben. 

Rensselaer. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Steuben. 
Steuben. 
Ulster. 

Wayne. 

Greene. 

Oswego. 

Clinton. 

Dutchess. 

lErie. 


Post-Offices. 
- 1 - 


Red  Mills . 

Redwood . 

Reed’s  Corners  . . 

Reidsville  . 

Remsen  . 

Rensselaerville  . . 
Rexford  Flatts  . . 
Reynales’  Basin.. 
Reynolds  ville  .... 

Rhinebeck . 

Rice . 

llichburgh . . 

Richfield . . 

Richfield  Springs  , 

Rich  l  ord . . 

Richland . . 

Richmond  . 

Richmond  Mills. . . 
Richmond  Valley  . 
Richmondville  . . , 

Richville . 

Ridge  . 

Ridgebury  . 

Ridgeway  . 

Riga . 

Ripley . 

River  Road  Forks. 

Riverside . 

Roanoke  . 

Robert’s  Comers  . 

Rochester  . 

Rockaway  . 

Rock  City  . 

Rock  City  Mills  . . . 

Rockdale . 

Rockland . 

Rockland  Lake  . . . 

Rock  Rilt  . 

Rock  Stream  . . . . . 

Rockton  . 

Rockville . 

Rockville  Center  . 

Rodman . 

Rome  . 

Romulus . 

Rondout . 

Roosevelt  . 

Root . 

Rose . 

Roseboom  . 

Hose  Hill . 

Rosendale  . 

Roslyn . 

Rossie . 

Rossville . 

Rotterdam . 

Rough  and  Ready. 

Rounsville  . 

Rouse’s  Point . 

Roxbury 
Royalton  . 

Rural  Hill 
Rush, 

Rushford 
Rushville 
Russell, 

Russia 
Rutland 
Rye 

Sackett’s  Harbor 

Sageville . 

Sag  Harbor . 

St.  Andrew’s  .... 

St.  Armaud . 

St.  Johnsville. . .. 
Saint  Lawrence. . 
Salem  . 


Counties. 


.  Putnam. 

.  Jefferson. 

.  Ontario. 

.  Albany. 

.  Oneida. 

.  Albany. 

.  Saratoga. 

.  Niagara. 

.  Tompkins. 

.  Dutchess. 

.  Cattaraugus. 

.  Allegany. 

.  Otsego. 

.  Otsego. 

.  Tioga. 

.  Oswego. 

,  Richmond. 

.  Ontario. 

.  Richmond. 

,  Schoharie. 

.  St.  Lawrence. 
Livingston. 
Orange. 
Orleans. 
Monroe. 
Chautauque. 
Livingston. 
Ulster. 
Genesee; 
Jefferson. 
Monroe. 
Queens. 
Dutchess. 
Saratoga. 
Chenango. 
Sullivan. 
Rockland. 
Delaware. 
Yates. 
Herkimer. 
Allegany. 
Queens. 
Jefferson. 
Oneida. 
Seneca. 

Ulster. 

Oswego. 

Montgomery. 

Wayne. 

Otsego. 

Seneca. 

Ulster. 

Queens. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Richmond. 

Schenectady. 

Steuben. 

Allegany. 

Clinton. 

Delaware. 

Niagara. 

Jefferson. 

Monroe. 

Allegany. 

Ontario. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Herkimer. 
Jefferson. 
Westchester. 

Jefferson. 

Hamilton. 

Suffolk. 

Orange. 

Essex. 

Montgomery. 

Jefferson. 

Washington. 


Post- Offices. 

Counties. 

Salem  Center . 

Westchester. 

Salem  X  Roads  . . . . 

Chautauque. 

Salina  . 

Onondaga. 

Salisbury . 

Herkimer. 

Salisbury  Center  . 

Herkimer. 

Salisbury  Mills  . . . . 

Orange. 

Salmon  Creek  . . . . 

Wayne. 

Salmon  River . 

Oswego. 

Salt  Point  . 

Dutchess. 

Salt  Springville  . . . . 

Otsego. 

Salubria . 

Chemung. 

Sammonsville  . . . . 

Fulton. 

Sampsonville . 

Ulster. 

Sand  Bank . 

Oswego. 

Sandburgh . 

Sullivan. 

Sand  Lake  . 

Rensselaer. 

Sands’  Mills  . 

Westchester. 

Sandusky  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Sandy  Creek  . 

Oswego. 

Sandy  Hill  . 

Washington. 

Sanford  . 

Broome. 

Sandford’s  Corners 

Jefferson. 

Sangerfield . 

Oneida. 

Saranac  . 

Clinton. 

Saratoga  Springs  . . 

Saratoga. 

Sardinia  . 

Erie. 

Saugerties  . 

Ulster. 

Sauquoit . 

Oneida. 

Savannah  . 

Wayne. 

Savona . 

Steuben. 

Sayville  . 

Suffolk. 

Scarsdale . 

Westchester. 

Schagticoke  . 

Rensselaer. 

Schenectady  . 

Schenectady. 

Schenevers . 

Otsego. 

Schodack  Center  . . 

Rensselaer. 

Schodack  Depot  . . 

Rensselaer. 

Schodack  Landing 

Rensselaer. 

Schoharie  . 

Schoharie. 

Schroon  Lake  .... 

Essex. 

Schroon  River  .... 

Essex. 

Schutzville . 

Dutchess. 

Schuyler’s  Falls. . . . 

Clinton. 

Schuyler’s  Lake  . . 

Otsego. 

Schuylers  ville . 

Saratoga. 

Scio  . 

Allegany. 

Sciota  . 

Clinton. 

Scipio  . 

Cayuga. 

Scipioville  . 

Cayuga. 

Sco’nondoa . 

Oneida. 

Scotchtown . 

Orange. 

Scott . 

Cortlandt. 

Scotia  . 

Schenectady. 

Scottsburgh  . 

Livingston 

Scottsville  . 

Monroe. 

Scriba . 

Oswego. 

Searsburgh . 

Tompkins. 

Searsville . 

Orange. 

Seatuck  . 

Suffolk. 

Seely  Creek . 

Chemung. 

Seelysburgh  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Sempronius  . 

Cayuga. 

Seneca  . 

Tompkins. 

Seneca  Castle . 

Ontario. 

Seneca  Falls  . 

Seneca. 

Seneca  River . 

Cayuga. 

Sennet . 

Cayuga. 

Setauket . 

Suffolk. 

Seward  . 

Schoharie. 

Shandaken  . 

Jlster. 

Shandaken  Center 

Jlster. 

Shannon  . 

Steuben. 

Sharon . 

Schoharie. 

Sharon  Springs . 

Schoharie. 

Sharon  Center  . . . . 

Schoharie. 

Shavertown  . 

ielaware. 

Shawangunk . 

Jlster. 

Shawnee . 

Niagara. 

POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


407 


Post- Offices. 


Shawsville . 

Shelby . 

Shelby  Basin . 

Sheldon . 

Sheldrake . 

Shelter  Island . 

Shenandoah  . 

Sherburne  . 

Sheridan . 

Sherman . . 

Sherman’s  Hollow. . 

Sherwood’s . 

Shingle  Creek . 

Shokan . 

Shongo . 

Short  Track . 

Short  Tract . 

Shrub  Oak  . 

Shushan . 

Sidney . 

Sidney  Center . 

Sidney  Plains . 

Siloam . 

Silver  Creek . 

Sing  Sing...'. . 

Skaneateles . 

Slate  Hill . 

Slaterville . 

Sloansville  . 

Sloatsburgh  . 

Smith’s  Basin . 

Smith  sboro’ . 

Smith’s  Mills . 

Smithtown . 

Smithtown  Branch  . 

Smithville  . 

Smith ville  Flats.... 
Smoky  Hollow  .... 

Smyrna . 

Sociality  . 

Sodus  . i . . . 

Sodus  Center . 

Sodus  Point . 

Solon . 

Solsville  . 

Somers  . . 

Somerset . 

Somerville . 

South  Alabama .... 

South  Alden  . 

South  Albion . 

South  Amenia  .... 
South  Hampton. . . . 

South  Argyle . 

South  Avon . 

South  Bainbridge  . . 

South  Barre . 

South  Berne  . 

South  Bradford  .... 
South  Brookfield  . . 

South  Bristol . 

South  Butler  . 

South  Byron  . 

South  Cairo . 

South  Cameron  .... 

South  Candor . 

South  Canton . 

South  Chili . 

South  Columbia.... 

South  Corinth . 

South  Cortlandt .... 

South  Danby . 

South  Dansville  .... 
South  Dickinson  . . . 

South  Dover  . 

South  Durham  .... 

South  East . 

South  Easton . 


Counties. 


Broome. 

Orleans. 

Orleans. 

Wyoming. 

Seneca. 

Suffolk. 

Dutchess. 

Chenango. 

Chautauque. 

Chautauque. 

Yates. 

Cayuga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Ulster. 

Allegany. 

Allegany. 

Allegany. 

Westchester. 

W  ashington. 

Delaware. 

Delaware. 

Delaware. 

Madison. 

Chautauque. 

Westchester. 

Onondaga. 

Orange. 

Tompkins. 

Schoharie. 

Rockland. 

Washington. 

Tioga. 

Chautauque. 

Suffolk. 

Suffolk. 

Jefferson. 

Chenango. 

Columbia. 

Chenango. 

Cattaraugus. 

Wayne. 

Wayne. 

Wayne. 

Cortlandt. 

Madison. 

Westchester. 

Niagara. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Genesee. 

Erie. 

Oswego. 

Dutchess. 

Suffolk. 

Washington. 

Livingston. 

Chenango. 

Orleans. 

Albany. 

Steuben. 

Madison. 

Ontario. 

Wayne. 

Genesee. 

Greene. 

Steuben. 

Tioga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Monroe. 

Herkimer. 

Saratoga. 

Cortlandt. 

Tompkins. 

Steuben. 

Franklin. 

Dutchess. 

GreeDe. 

Putnam. 

Washington.  1 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

South  Edmeston  . . . 
South  Edwards  . . . . 
South  Franklin 

South  Galway . 

South  Granville 

South  Granby . 

South  Hammond  . . 
South  Hartford  .... 
South  Hartwick.... 

!  South  Hill  _ 

South  Kortright. . . . 

South  Lansing . 

South  Livonia . 

South  Lodi . 

Otsego. 

St.  JLawrence. 

Delaware. 

Saratoga. 

Washington. 

Oswego. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Washington. 

Otsego. 

Steuben. 

Delaware. 

Tompkins. 

Livingston. 

Seneca. 

South  Marcellus  . . . 
South  Middletown  . 

South  Milford . 

South  New  Berlin. . 

Onondaga. 

Orange. 

Otsego. 

Chenango. 

Suffolk. 

South  Onondaga  . . . 
South  Otselic . 

Onondaga. 

Chenango. 

Chenango. 

Richmond. 

South  Oxford . 

South  Side . 

South  Owego . 

Tioga. 

Queens. 

Chenango. 

Chemung. 

Steuben. 

South  Oyster  Bay  . . 
South  Plymouth.... 
Southport . 

South  Pultney . 

South  Richland  .... 
South  Royalton  .... 
South  Rutland . 

Oswego. 

Niagara. 

Jefferson. 

Westchester. 

South  Schodack. . . . 
South  Sodus  . 

Rensselaer. 

Wayne. 

Rensselaer. 

Steuben. 

Oneida. 

Otsego. 

Cayuga. 

St.  Lawrence. 

South  Stephentown 
South  Thurston  .... 
South  Trenton . 

Erie. 

South  Warsaw  .... 
South  Westerloo  . . . 

Wyoming. 

Albany. 

Ulster. 

South  Windsor  .... 
South  Worcester  .. 
Southwest  Oswego  . 
South  Wilson . 

Broome. 

Otsego. 

Oswego. 

Niagara. 

Onondaga. 

Onondaga. 

Livingston. 

Tompkins. 

Tioga. 

Monroe. 

Spafford  Hollow. . . . 

Columbia. 

Speonk . 

Suffolk. 

Spraker's  Basin  .... 

Montgomery. 

Erie. 

Otsego. 

Otsego. 

Allegany. 

Rockland. 

Springfield  Center  . . 

Erie. 

Livingston. 

Dutchess. 

Dutchess. 

Genesee. 

Oneida. 

Stanley  Corners .... 

Ontario. 

Delaware. 

Richmond. 

Yates. 

Herkimer. 

State  Bridge . ‘Oneida. 

Stephentown . iRensselaer. 

Sterling . Cayuga. 

Sterlingville . I  Jefferson. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Steuben  . 

Oneida. 

Stevensville . 

Sullivan. 

Stillwater . 

Saratoga. 

Stittville  . 

Oneida. 

Stockbridge . 

Madison. 

Stockholm  . 

St.  Lawrence 

Stockport . 

Columbia. 

Stockport  Station  . . 

Delaware. 

Stockton . . . . . 

Chautauque. 

Stokes . 

Oneida. 

Stone  Arabia . 

Montgomery. 

Stone  Church . 

Genesee. 

Stone  Mills . 

Jefferson. 

Stone  Ridge . 

Ulster. 

Stony  Brook  . 

Suffolk. 

Stony  Creek . 

Warren. 

Stormville  . 

Dutch  ess. 

Stowell’s  Corners  . . 

Jefferson. 

Stow’s  Square . 

Lewis. 

Stratford  . 

Fulton. 

Stratton’s  Fall  . 

Delaware. 

Strykersville  . 

Wyoming. 

Stuyvesant  . 

Columbia. 

Stuyvesant  Falls  . . . 

Columbia. 

Success . 

Suffolk. 

Suffern . 

Rockland. 

Suffolk . 

Suffolk. 

Sugar  Hill  . 

Steuben. 

Sugar  Loaf . 

Orange. 

Sullivan  . 

Madison. 

Sullivanville  . 

Chemung. 

Summer  Hill  . 

Cayuga. 

Summit . 

Schoharie. 

Susquehannah  .... 

Broome. 

Suspension  Bridge  . 

Niagara. 

Sweden . 

Monroe. 

Syracuse  . 

Onondaga. 

Taberg . 

Oneida. 

Taghkanick . 

Columbia. 

Tannersville . 

Greene. 

Tappantown . 

Rockland. 

Tarry  town  . 

Westchester. 

Taylor  . 

Cortlandt. 

Taylorville  . 

Ontario. 

Ten  Mile  Spring. . . . 

Cattaraugus. 

Texas  . 

Oswego. 

Texas  Valley  . 

Cortlandt. 

The  Corner . 

Ulster. 

The  Glen  . 

Warren. 

The  Purchase  . 

Westchester. 

Theresa . 

Jefferson. 

The  Square . 

Cayuga. 

Thompsonville  .... 

Sullivan. 

Thompson’s  Station 

Suffolk. 

Three  Mile  Bay  .... 

Jefferson. 

Throopsville  . 

Cayuga. 

Thurston . 

Steuben. 

Ticonderoga . 

Essex. 

Tioga  Center  . 

Tioga. 

Tivoli . 

Dutchess. 

Toddsville  . 

Otsego. 

Tomhannock  . 

Rensselaer. 

Tompkinsville . 

Richmond. 

Tonawanda . 

Erie. 

Tontine . 

Steuben. 

Tottenville  . 

Richmond. 

Towlesville . 

Steuben. 

Towners  . 

Putnam. 

Town  Line . 

Erie. 

Townsend . 

Chemung. 

Townsendviile . 

Seneca. 

Transit . 

Genesee. 

Transit  Bridge . 

Allegany. 

Trenton . 

Oneida. 

Trenton  Falls . 

Oneida. 

Triangle  . 

Broome. 

Tribe’s  Hill . 

Montgomery. 

408 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Troupsburgh  . 

Steuben. 

Troy . 

Rensselaer. 

Trout  Creek  . 

Delaware. 

Trumans  burgh  .... 

Tompkins. 

Trumbull  Corners  . . 

Tompkins. 

Truxton . 

Cortlandt. 

Tuckahoe . 

W  eslchester. 

Tully  . 

Onondaga. 

Tully  Valley . 

Onondaga. 

Turin . 

Lewis. 

Turners . 

Orange. 

Tuscarora . 

Livingston. 

Tuthill . 

Ulster. 

Twelve  Mile  Creek  . 

Steuben. 

Tyre . 

Seneca. 

Tyrone  . 

Steuben. 

Ulsterville  . 

Ulster. 

Unadilla  . 

Otsego. 

Unadilla  Center  .... 

Otsego. 

Unadilla  Forks  .... 

Otsego. 

Union  . 

Broome. 

Union  Center . 

Broome. 

Union  Corners . 

Livingston. 

Union  Ellery  . 

Chautauque. 

Union  Falls . 

Clinton. 

Union  Mills . 

Fulton. 

Union  Settlement  . . 

Oswego. 

Union  Society . 

Greene. 

Union  Springs  .... 

Cayuga. 

Union  Square' . 

Oswego. 

Union  Valley  . 

Cortlandt. 

Union  Village  .... 

Broome. 

Unionville  . 

Orange. 

Unitaria  . 

Broome. 

Upper  Aquebogue  . 

Suffolk. 

Upper  Jay  . 

Essex. 

Upper  Lisle . 

Broome. 

Upper  Red  Hook  . . 

Dutchess. 

Urbana . 

Steuben. 

Utica  . 

Oneida. 

Vail’s  Mills . 

Fulton. 

Valatie . 

Columbia. 

Vallonia  Springs  . . 

Broome. 

Van  Buren . 

Onondaga. 

Van  Buren  Center. . 

Onondaga. 

Van  Buren  Harbor 

Chautauque. 

Van  Ettenville  .... 

Chemung. 

Van  Hornesville  .. 

Herkimer. 

Varick . 

Seneca. 

Varna  . . . 

Tompkins. 

Varysburgh  . 

Wyoming. 

Venice . 

Cayuga. 

Verbank . 

Dutchess. 

Vermillion . 

Oswego. 

Vermont . 

Chautauque. 

Vernal . 

Wyoming. 

Vernon . 

Oneida. 

Vernon  Center  .... 

Oneida. 

Verona . 

Oneida. 

Verona  Mills . 

Oneida. 

Verplank . 

Westchester. 

Versailles  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Vesper . 

Onondaga. 

Vestal  . 

Broome. 

Veteran  . 

Chemung. 

Victor  . 

Ontario. 

Victory . 

Cayuga. 

Vienna . 

Oneida. 

Villanova . 

Chautauque. 

Virgil  . 

Cortlandt. 

Vischer’s  Ferry  .... 

Saratoga. 

Vista . 

Westchester. 

Volney . 

Oswego. 

Volusia  . 

Chautauque. 

Waddington  . 

St.  Lawrence. 

Post-Offices. 


Counties. 


Wad  ham’s  Mills  , 
Wading  River  ... 

Walden  . 

Waldensville . 

Wales  . 

•Wales  Center . 

Walesville . 

Walton . 

Walworth  . 

Wampsville  . 

Wappinger’s  Falls 
Wardborough  ... 

Warner  ville  . 

Warren  . 

Warrensburgh  ... 

Warsaw  . 

Warwick . 

Washington  . 

Washington  Hollow 
Washington  Mills.. 

Waterbnrgh  . 

Waterford  . 

Waterloo . . 

Waterport  . 

Watertown . . 

Watervale  . 

Water  Valley . 

Waterville . 

Waterville  Comers 
Watervliet  Center. 

Watson  . .. 

Waverly . 

Wawarsing . 

Wayne . 

Webster  ......... 

Weedsport . 

Wegatchie . 

Wellington . 

Wells  . . 

Wellsburgh  ..... 
Wells’ Corner  ... 

Wellsville  . 

West  Addison  . . . 
West  Almond  ... 

West  Amboy . 

West  Aurora . 

West  Bainbridge  . 

West  Bergen . 

West  Berlin  . 

West  Bloomfield  . 

West  Branch . 

West  Brook  ville  . 
West  Burlington  . 

Westbury . 

West  Butler  . 

West  Camden  ... 

West  Candor . 

West  Carlton . 

West  Cayuta . 

West  Charlton  ... 

West  Chazy  . 

Westehester  . 

West  Clarksville  . 
West  Colesville  . . . , 
West  Concord  .... 
WestConesus  .... 
West  Constable.. . , 

West  Danby . 

West  Davenport  . 

West  Day  . 

West  Dresden  ... 
West  Dryden  .... 
West  Edmeston... 

West  Ellery  . 

Westerloo  . 

Westernville . 

West  Exeter  - 

West  Falls . . 


Essex. 

Suffolk. 

Orange. 

Schoharie. 

Erie. 

Erie. 

Oneida. 

Delaware. 

Wayne. 

Madison. 

Dutchess. 

Warren. 

Schoharie. 

Herkimer. 

Warren. 

Wyoming. 

Orange. 

Dutchess. 

Dutchess. 

Oneida. 

Tompkins. 

Saratoga. 

Seneca. 

Orleans. 

Jefferson. 

Onondaga. 

Erie. 

Oneida. 

Erie. 

Schenectady. 

Lewis. 

Tioga. 

Ulster. 

Steuben. 

Monroe. 

Cayuga. 

St.  Lawrence, 

Onondaga. 

Hamilton. 

Chemung. 

Orange. 

Allegany. 

Steuben. 

Allegany. 

Oswego. 

Erie. 

Chenango. 

Genesee. 

Rensselaer. 

Ontario. 

Oneida. 

Sullivan. 

Otsego. 

Wayne. 

Wayne. 

Oneida. 

Tioga. 

Orleans. 

Chemung. 

Saratoga. 

Clinton. 

Westchester. 

Allegany. 

Broome. 

Erie. 

Livingston. 

Franklin. 

Tompkins. 

Delaware. 

Saratoga. 

Yates. 

Tompkins. 

Otsego. 

Chautauque. 

Albany. 

Oneida. 

Otsego. 

Erie. 


Post-Offices. 


West  Farmington. 

West  Farms  . 

West  Fayette . 

Westfield . 

West  Fort  Ann  . . . 

Westford  . 

Westfowler . 

West  Fulton  . 

West  Gaines . 

West  Galway . 

West  Genesee  . . . 

West  Gilboa . 

West  Greece . 

West  Greenfield  . 
West  Greenwood  . 

West  Groton . 

West  Hadley . 

West  Hebron . 

West  Henrietta  . . . . 

West  Hills . 

West  Hurley . 

West  Junius  . 

West  Kendall  . . . . 

West  Kill  ........ 

West  Laurens  .... 

West  Lexington  . . 

West  Leyden . 

West  Linklean  . . . . 
West  Lowville  . .  . 
West  Macedon  . . . . 
West  Martinsburgh 
West  Meredith  . . . . 

West  Milton  . 

West  Monroe . 

Westmoreland  .... 

West  Moriah . 

West  Newark 
West  Newstead 

West  Niles . 

Weston  . 

West  Oneonta . 

West  Onondaga. . . . 

West  Perth . 

West  Plattsburgh  . . 
West  Perrysburgh 

West  Point . 

Westport . 

West  Potsdam  .... 

West  Rush . 

West  Sand  Lake  . . 
West  Schuyler  .... 
West  Shandaken  . . 

West  Shongo . 

West  Somers . 

West  Somerset.... 
West  Stephentown 
West  Stockholm  . . 
West  Taghkanic  . . 

West  Theresa . 

West  Town  . 

West  Troupsburg . . 

West  Troy . 

West  Union  . 

West  Vienna . 

Westville . 

West  Walworth  . . 
West  Webster  .... 
West  Windsor  .... 
West  Winfield  .... 
West  Yorkshire 
Wethersfield  .., 
Wethersfield  Spri’gs 
Whallansburgh .... 

Wheatland . 

Wheatville . 

Wheeler . 

White  Creek . 

White  Hall . 


Counties. 


Ontario. 

Westchester. 

Seneca. 

Chautauque. 

Washington. 

Otsego. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Schoharie. 

Orleans. 

Fulton. 

Allegany. 

Schoharie. 

Monroe. 

Saratoga. 

Steuben. 

Tompkins. 

Saratoga. 

Washington. 

Monroe. 

Suffolk. 

Ulster. 

Seneca. 

Orleans. 

Greene. 

Otsego. 

Greene. 

Lewis. 

Chenango. 

Lewis. 

Wayne. 

Lewis. 

Delaware. 

Saratoga. 

Oswego. 

Oneida. 

Essex. 

Tioga. 

Erie. 

Cayuga. 

Steuben. 

Otsego. 

Onondaga. 

Fulton. 

Clinton. 

Cattaraugus. 

Orange. 

Essex. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Monroe. 

Rensselaer. 

Herkimer. 

Ulster. 

Allegany. 

Westchester. 

Niagara. 

Rensselaer. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Columbia. 

Jefferson. 

Orange. 

Steuben. 

Albany. 

Steuben. 

Oneida. 

Otsego. 

Wayne. 

Monroe. 

Broome. 

Herkimer. 

Cattaraugus. 

Wyoming. 

Wyoming. 

Essex. 

Monroe. 

Genesee. 

Steuben. 

Washington. 

Washington. 


POST-OFFICES  IN  NEW  YORK 


409 


Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

Post-Offices. 

Counties. 

White  I.alce  . 

1 

Sullivan. 

Wilmut  . 

Herkimer. 

Wright’s  Corners  . . 

Niagara. 

Westchester. 

Saratoga. 

Chenango. 

Oneida. 

Allegany. 

Westch  ester. 

YVilnH 

Jefferson. 

Wrightsville  . 

Clinton. 

Whitside’s  Corners 
White’s  Store  .... 

Niagara. 

Saratoga. 

Onondaga. 

Greene. 

W  ur  ts  boro’ . 

Sullivan. 

Wilton . 

Windfall . 

Wynantskill  . 

Wyncoop’s  Creek  . . 
Wyoming  . 

Rensselaer. 

Chemung. 

Wyoming. 

Whitlockville . 

Windham  Center  . . 

Greene. 

Whitney’s  Point  .. 
Whitney’s  Valley  .. 

Willett. 

Broome. 

Allegany. 

Cortlandt. 

Kings. 

Windsor . 

Winfield . 

Wirt . 

Broome. 

Herkimer. 

Allegany. 

Yaphank . 

Yates  . 

Yatesville  . 

Suffolk. 

Orleans. 

Yates. 

Williamsburgh  .... 

Wiscoy  . . 

Allegany. 

Yonkers . 

Westchester. 

Wayne. 

Oswego. 

Erie. 

Allegany. 

Erie. 

Wolcott  . 

Wayne. 

York . 

1  .ivingston. 

Yorkville . 

New  York. 

Steuben. 

Yorkshire  . 

Cattaraugus. 

Ulster. 

York  town  . 

Westchester. 

Jefferson. 

Youngstown  . 

Niagara. 

Woodwardsville  . . 

Worcester  . 

Worth  ville . 

Essex. 

Youngs  ville  . 

Sullivan. 

Willseyville  . 

Wilmington  . 

Tioga. 

Essex. 

Otsego. 

Jefferson. 

Zoar . 

Erie. 

POST  OFFICES  RECENTLY  ESTABLISHED, 

With  additions  and  Corrections  of  the  foregoing  List. 


Post-Offices, 


Counties. 


Allensville . Allegany. 

Bentley’s  Corners.  Jeffersou. 

Big  Creek . Steuben. 

Breer  Hill . St.  Lawrence. 

Brick  Creek . .....lUlster, 

Brush’s  Mills. Tompkins. 

Burk’s  Mills . | Franklin. 

Cattaraugus  ......  Cattaraugus. 

Cedar  Lake . Herkimer. 

Center  Canisteo  ..  Steuben. 

College  Point . Queens. 

Colliers ville  ......  Otsego. 

Craig’s  Mills . St.  Lawrence. 

Crittenden . Erie. 

Culeont  . . Delaware. 

Dickerson  ville  ....  Niagara. 

Downville . Delaware. 

East  Eden . Erie. 

East  Koy\ . i  Allegany. 

East  Parish . ..  Oswego. 

East  Place . Clinton. 

East  Scott . Cortlandt. 

East  Shelby . Orleans. 


Post-Offices. 


Edgar  Lake . . 

Franklin  Falls  .... 

Freehold  . 

Garrison’s . 

Graysville . . 

Grand  Island. ..... 

Hankino . . 

Harriettstown  .... 
Hastings’  Center .. 
Hawkins’  Creek  . . 

Hill  Side . 

Howard . . 

Hunt’s  Hollow . . . . 
Jewett  Center  .... 

La  Salle . . 

Law  Office  Build’gs 

Lee  Center  . 

Monument  Island. 

Narrows . 

New  Hudson . 

North  Bloomfield  . 
North  Greece . 


Counties. 


Herkimer. 

Franklin. 

Genessee 

Putnam. 

Herkimer. 

Erie. 

Sullivan. 

Essex. 

Oswego. 

Sullivan. 

Oneida. 

Delaware. 

Livingston. 

Greene. 

Niagara. 

Madison. 

Oneida. 

Delaware. 

Jefferson. 

Allegany. 

Madison. 

Monroe. 


Post-Offices. 


North  Parma . 

Northville . 

Ono ville . . 

Oramel . 

Osceola . . . . 

Pendleton  Center  . 

Pine  Woods . 

Portland  ville. . . . . . 

Itasoag  . 

South  Greenville.. 
South.Harrisburg  . 

Southport . 

Sumtnitville . 

Springs . 

Stockholm  Depot . 

Webb’s  Mills . 

West  Bethany  . . . . 
West  Cameron  ... 
White  Corners. . . . 
Whitney’s  Corners 
Williams'  Bridge.. 
Wiskaguna . 


Counties. 


Monroe. 

Jefferson. 

Cattaraugus. 

Allegany. 

Lewis. 

Niagara. 

Madison. 

Otsego. 

Oswego. 

Saratoga. 

Lewis. 

Chenango. 

Suffolk. 

Allegany. 

St.  Lawrence. 
Chemung. 
Genessee. 
Steuben. 

Erie. 

Jefferson. 
West  Chester 
Schenectady. 


* 

CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 

OF 

IMPORTANT  AND  INTERESTING  EVENTS 

IN  THE 

HISTORY  OF  NEW  YORK. 


1524.  Verrazzano,  a  Florentine,  discovers  the  harbor  of  New  York. 

1609.  Henry  Hudson,  an  Englishman,  sails  up  the  river  that  bears  his  name. 

1611.  Champlain,  a  Frenchman,  discovers  the  lake  which  bears  his  name. 

1614.  The  Dutch  build  a  fort  and  trading  house  at  New  York,  and  at  Albany. 

1616.  Kingston  first  settled. 

1619.  Dermer,  an  Englishman,  the  first  who  sailed  through  Long  Island  Sound. 

1620.  The  Dutch  West  India  Company  established. 

1623.  Pearl-street  formed,  the  first  street  ever  made  in  New  York. 

1629.  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  the  Dutch  governor,  arrived  in  New  Amsterdam. 

1630.  Michael  Paw,  a  Dutch  subject,  purchases  Staten  Island  of  the  Indians. 

1632.  West  end  of  Long  Island  began  to  be  settled  by  the  Dutch. 

1633.  The  Dutch  erect  a  small  fort  at  Hartford,  Conn. 

1638.  William  Kieft  succeeded  Van  Twiller  as  governor  of  New  Netherland. 

“  War  with  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware. 

“  Negro  slaves  introduced  into  New  Netherland. 

1639.  The  English  settled  at  Oyster  Bay:  they  were  driven  ofi’by  Gov.  Kieft. 

1640.  The  English  settle  Southampton,  Long  Island. 

1642.  The  Dutch  fort  Hope  at  Hartford  seized  by  the  English. 

1643.  The  New  England  colonies  leagued  against  the  Dutch  and  Indians. 

“  First  church  erected  in  New  York. 

1646.  Battle  between  the  Dutch  and  Indians  at  Horse  Neck. 

1647.  Peter  Stuyvesant  arrives  as  the  successor  of  Gov.  Kieft. 

1650.  Gov.  Stuyvesant  arriving  at  Hartford,  demands  a  surrender  of  the  lands  on  Con¬ 
necticut  River. 

1654.  The  tract  now  Westchester  County,  purchased  of  the  Indians  by  T.  Pell. 

1655.  Fort  Casimer  on  the  Delaware  captured  from  the  Swedes. 

1663.  Hostilities  with  the  Indians  near  Esopus,  (Kingston.) 

1664.  Charles  II.  grants  New  Netherland  to  the  Duke  of  York. 

o 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1664. 

1665. 

(t 

if 

1666. 

1667. 

1668. 
1669. 

(( 

C( 

1672. 

1673. 
(< 

a 


1675. 

1676. 


1679. 

1682. 

1683. 
(( 

(i 

1684. 

1685. 

1686. 
(( 

(C 

1687. 

1688. 

1689. 

(C 

1690. 

1691. 

<C 

(( 

(( 

a 

1692. 

1693. 

U 

<6 

1694. 

it 

1696. 

4  i 


Col.  Nichols,  with  an  armed  force,  compels  Gov.  Stuyvesant  to  surrender  New 
Amsterdam  to  the  English,  which  now  is  named  New  Yurie. 

New  York  incorporated  :  Thomas  Willet  the  first  mayor. 

John  Shute  licensed  to  teach  the  English  language  at  Albany. 

Town  and  county  rates  paid  in  beef  and  pork. 

The  French  from  Canada  send  an  expedition  against  the  Mohawks. 

Col.  Francis  Lovelace  succeeds  Col.  Nichols  as  governor. 

A  carriage  road  from  New  York  to  Harlaem  ordered  to  be  made. 

Gov.  Lovelace  institutes  horse  races  at  Hempstead,  L.  I. 

Catharine  Harrison  accused  of  witchcraft :  tried  by  the  Assizes. 

The  New  England  Indians  unsuccessfully  invade  the*Mohawks 
The  first  Friend,  or  Quaker,  preached  in  New  York. 

War  with  Holland:  New  York  surrendered  to  the  Dutch. 

Anthony  Clove  appointed  governor,  surrendered  to  the  English  the  next  year. 
First  post-rider  between  New  York  and  Boston,  made  a  trip  once  in  three 
weeks. 

Fort  Frontenac  built  at  Ontario. 

Edmund  Andros  appointed  governor  of  New  York. 

Price  of  grain  fixed  by  the  governor:  winter  wheat  5s.,  summer  wheat  4s.  fid.  per 
bushel. 

No  bolting  mills  allowed,  or  flour  packed  out  of  New  York. 

The  Duke  of  York’s  charter  granted. 

Thomas  Dongan  arrives  as  successor  of  Gov.  Andros. 

First  Legislative  Assembly  of  New  York  convened  at  Hempstead. 

None  but  freemen  allowed  to  trade  up  Hudson  River. 

M.  de  la  Barre  invades  the  country  of  the  Five  Nations. 

The  Jews  petition  for  liberty  to  exercise  their  religion  •  petition  not  granted. 

King  James  II.  forbids  the  use  of  printing  presses  in  New  York. 

City  of  New  York  pays  10  per  cent,  interest  for  borrowed  money. 

Albany  incorporated  a  city. 

M.  Denonville  with  2,000  French  and  Indians  marches  against  the  Senecas. 

New  York  and  New  Jersey  added  to  the  jurisdiction  of  New  England. 

The  Five  Nations  make  a  descent  On  Montreal. 

Accession  of  William  and  Mary:  Leisler  seizes  the  fort  at  New  York. 
Schenectady  destroyed  by  the  French  and  Indians. 

Col.  H.  Sloughter  arrives  as  governor  of  the  province  of  New  York. 

Leisler  and  Milborn  executed  for  high  treason. 

First  General  Assembly  convened  in  New  York  consisted  of  17  members,  April  9 
French  settlements  on  Lake  Champlain  invaded  by  Maj.  Schuyler 
The  Duke’s  laws  ceased,  provincial  laws  began. 

Col.  Benjamin  Fletcher  arrives  as  governor. 

An  Episcopal  Church  established  in  New  York. 

Count  Frontenac  makes  an  incursion  into  the  Mohawk  country. 

Gov.  Fletcher  attempts  the  command  of  the  militia  of  Connecticut. 

Treaty  with  the  Five  Nations  at  Albany. 

Capt.  Kidd  the  pirate  committed  depredations  on  the  coast  about  this  period. 
Count  Frontenac  marches  against  the  Five  Nations. 

About  6,000  inhabitants  in  New  York  City  at  this  period:  complaints  of  great 
scarcity  of  bread. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1698. 

1699. 

1700. 

1701. 
(( 

1702. 

1707. 

1708. 

1710. 
(( 

1711. 
<< 

1712. 

1719. 

1720. 
<< 

1722. 

<< 

1725. 

1728. 

1729. 


1730. 

1731. 
<< 

1732. 


1736. 

1738. 

1741. 

1743. 

1747. 

1750. 

1751. 
1753. 


1754. 
*< 

1755. 

U 

(( 

ii 

1756. 


Richard,  Earl  of  Bellamont,  arrives  as  governor. 

Captain  Kidd  arrested  at  Boston :  his  money,  buried  at  Gardiner’s  Island,  se¬ 
cured. 

The  Legislature  passed  a  law  to  hang  every  Popish  priest  who  entered  the  pro¬ 
vince  to  entice  the  Indians  from  their  allegiance. 

A  court  of  chancery  organized  in  New  York. 

Lord  Cornbury  arrived  as  governor. 

Great  sickness  in  New  York  :  General  Assembly  held  at  Jamaica. 

Lord  Cornbury  prohibits  the  Presbyterians  from  preaching  without  his  license. 
Lord  Lovelace  arrives  as  governor :  he  dies  the  next  year. 

Col.  Schuyler  visits  England  with  five  Indian  chiefs. 

Robert  Hunter  arrived  as  governor,  with  3,000  Palatines. 

£10,000  in  bills  of  credit  issued,  to  aid  the  war  in  Canada. 

A  slave  market  in  Wall-street,  New  York. 

Insurrection  of  negroes  in  New  York:  19  of  them  executed. 

First  Presbyterian  church  in  New  York  founded. 

William  Burnet  (son  of  Bishop  Burnet)  arrives  as  governor. 

A  tax  of  2  per  cent,  laid  on  European  goods  imported. 

Trading  house  erected  at  Oswego. 

Congress  held  at  Albany  with  the  Six  Nations. 

“New  York  Gazette,”  the  first  newspaper  published  in  New  York. 

Col.  John  Montgomery  succeeds  Gov.  Burnet. 

The  Society  in  London  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  present  the 
city  of  New  York  a  library  of  1,642  volumes. 

Jews  synagogue  built  in  Mill-street. 

Boundary  between  New  York  and  Connecticut  settled. 

The  French  erect  a  fort  at  Crown  Point. 

William  Cosby  arrives  as  governor  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

The  first  stage  began  to  run  between  Boston  and  New  York  once  a  month :  four¬ 
teen  days  on  the  journey. 

Gov.  Cosby  died  :  he  is  succeeded  by  George  Clarke. 

The  Mayor  of  New  York  refuses  to  obey  the  order  for  the  impressment  of 
seamen. 

Celebrated  negro  plot  in  New  York  suppressed. 

George  Clinton  arrives  as  captain-general  and  governor. 

Saratoga  village  destroyed  by  the  French  and  Indians. 

A  theatre  established  at  New  York. 

Treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  at  Albany. 

Gov.  Clinton  is  succeeded  by  Sir  Danvers  Osborn,  who  commits  suicide  five  days 
after  his  arrival :  he  is  succeeded  in  the  government  by  James  De  Lancy. 
Mild  winter  in  this  and  the  three  following  years — sloops  went  from  New  York 
to  Albany  in  January  and  February. 

A  plan  for  colonial  union  drawn  up  at  a  convention  at  Albany. 

King’s  College  (now  Columbia)  founded  in  New  York. 

Sir  Charles  Plardy  arrives  as  governor. 

Provincial  troops  rendezvous  at  Albany :  Fort  Edward  built. 

Battle  of  Lake  George,  Sept.  8 :  French  defeated,  Dieskau  killed 
Gen.  Shirley  arrives  at  Oswego  Aug.  21. 

Fort  Oswego  taken  and  demolished  by  M.  Montcalm  Aug.  14 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1757.  Fort  William  Henry  taken  by  Montcalm  Aug.  9. 

1758.  Gen.  Abercrombie  defeated  at  Ticonderoga  July  8  with  great  loss. 

“  Fort  Stanwix  built  where  Rome  now  stands. 

“  Fort  Frontenac  taken  by  Col.  Bradstreet  Aug.  27. 

1759.  Ticonderoga  taken  by  the  English  July  27. 

“  Sir  Wm.  Johnson  defeats  the  French  at  Niagara  July  24. 

“  Battle  of  Quebec,  Sept.  13,  Gen.  Wolfe  and  Montcalm  killed. 

1760.  Capitulation  of  M.  de  Vaudreuil  at  Montreal — entire  reduction  of  Canada,  Sep¬ 

tember  8. 

“  Baptist  Church  in  Gold-street,  N.  Y.  erected. 

1761.  Cadwallader  Colden  having  assumed  the  government  as  President  of  the  Council 

in  1760,  is  appointed  lieutenant  governor  in  August:  is  superseded  by  Gen.  Ro¬ 
bert  Moncton  in  October  of  this  year. 

1763.  Controversy  with  New  Hampshire  respecting  boundaries,  commences. 

“  A  Methodist  chapel  erected  in  New  York. 

1765.  Congress  of  delegates  from  the  colonies  met  in  New  York  in  October. 

“  Sir  Henry  Moore  arrived  as  governor. 

1766.  Riots  on  the  manor  of  Rensselaer,  four  persons  killed,  June  26. 

“  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland  commences  a  mission  among  the  Oneidas. 

1767.  Boundary  of  Massachusetts  fixed  at  20  miles  east  from  Hudson  River. 

1769.  Gov.  Moore  dies  :  the  government  devolves  on  Mr.  Colden. 

1770.  John,  Lord  Dunmore,  governor:  he  is  succeeded  in 

1771.  by  William  Tryon,  the  last  of  the  royal  governors. 

1774.  Difficulties  with  the  settlers  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants. 

“  Ann  Lee  with  a  number  of  Shakers  arrived  at  New  York. 

1775.  Provincial  Convention  assembled  at  New  York  April  22,  and  delegates  to  the 

Continental  Congress  appointed. 

“  Ticonderoga  surprised  and  taken  by  Col.  Allen  May  10. 

“  Provisional  Congress  at  New  York  May  22d  :  Committee  of  Safety  appointed. 

“  Gov.  Tryon  at  New  York  for  safety  retires  on  board  of  a  packet  in  October. 

“  Gen.  Montgomery  killed  at  Quebec  Dec.  31. 

1776.  Gen.  Schuyler  disarms  the  royalists  in  Tryon  County,  in  January. 

“  Royalists  on  Long  Island  disarmed  by  the  Jersey  militia. 

“  The  fourth  Provisional  Congress  assembled  at  White  Plains  :  Declaration  oj 
Independence  adopted  July  9. 

“  Lord  Howe  with  24,000  men  lands  at  Gravesend,  L.  I.  Aug.  22. 

“  Battle  on  Long  Island,  Americans  defeated,  Aug.  27. 

“  Gen.  Washington  retires  from  Long  Island  to  New  York  Aug.  30. 

“  The  British  take  possession  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

“  Great  fire  in  New  York,  about  1,000  buildings  consumed  Sept.  21. 

“  Battle  of  White  Plains  Oct.  28. 

“  Gen.  Arnold  defeated  on  Lake  Champlain  Oct.  13. 

“  Fort  Washington  on  the  Hudson  surrendered  Nov.  16. 

1777.  Inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire  Grants  declare  themselves  independent  of  New 

York,  and  that  district  a  state  by  the  name  of  Vermont,  in  January. 

“  Convention  at  Kingston — State  Constitution  adopted  April  20. 

“  George  Clinton  appointed  governor  July  30. 

“  Burgoyne  invests  Ticonderoga  June  30,  St.  Clair  retreats 
“  Gen.  Burgoyne  arrives  at  Fort  Edward  July  30. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1777.  Battle  of  Oriskany,  Gen.  Herkimer  mortally  wounded,  Aug.  6. 

“  Battle  of  Bennington,  British  defeated,  Aug.  26. 

“  Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton  taken  by  the  British  Oct.  6. 

“  Battle  of  Stillwater,  Gen.  Frazer  killed,  Oct.  7. 

“  Surrender  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga  Oct.  17. 

“  Kingston  burnt  by  Gen.  Vaughan  in  October. 

1778.  The  legislature  assembled  at  Poughkeepsie  Jan.  15. 

“  Col.  Baylor’s  troop  surprised  at  Tappan  Aug.  28. 

“  Cherry  Valley  burnt  by  the  Indians  and  tories  Nov.  11. 

1779.  Capture  of  Stony  Point  by  Gen.  Wayne  July  16. 

“  British  post  at  Paulus  Hook  surprised  by  Maj.  Lee  July  19. 

“  Gen.  Sullivan  ravages  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations. 

1780.  Dark  day  commenced  at  New  York  10  o’clock,  A.  M.  May  19. 

“  Sir  John  Johnson  from  Canada  makes  an  incursion  into  Johnstown  May  21 
“  The  Indians  under  Brant  ravage  the  Mohawk  valley. 

“  Treason  of  Arnold  :  Andre  taken  Sept.  23d,  executed  Oct.  2. 

“  Severe  Winter,  harbor  of  New  York  frozen  over. 

1781.  Maj.  Ross  and  Butler  make  an  incursion  into  Johnstown,  W.  Butler  killed. 

1782.  Sir  Guy  Carlton  commander  of  the  British  in  New  York. 

1783.  New  York  evacuated  by  the  British  Nov.  25. 

1784.  First  voyage  from  the  United  States  to  China,  by  the  “  Empress  of  China”  from 

New  York,  a  ship  of  300  tons,  Feb. 

“  Seat  of  state  government  removed  to  Albany. 

“  Whitestown,  near  Utica,  first  settled  by  Hugh  White  from  Connecticut. 

“  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  created  :  regents  appointed. 

1785.  Hudson  incorporated  a  city. 

“  Congress  of  the  United  States  met  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

1786.  The  Genesee  country  granted  to  Massachusetts. 

“  Bank  of  New  York  in  operation. 

“  First  Catholic  church  built  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

1787.  Columbia  College  in  New  York  incorporated. 

1788.  Doctors’  mob  in  New  York,  occasioned  by  the  dissection  of  dead  bodies:  several 

persons  killed. 

“  Cooperstown  village  laid  out — incorporated  in  1812. 

1789.  Washington  inaugurated  President  in  New  York  April  30. 

“  Vermont  acknowledged  an  independent  state. 

1790.  Geneseo  first  settled  by  William  and  James  Wadsworth. 

“  Canandaigua,  first  settlement  commenced. 

1792.  Society  to  promote  Agriculture,  Arts,  and  Manufactures  established. 

“  Bath  first  settled  by  Capt.  E.  Williamson. 

“  Western  Inland  Lock  Navigation  Company  incorporated. 

1793.  Auburn  first  settled  by  Col.  Hardenbergh. 

1794.  Union  College  at  Schenectady  founded. 

“  Geneva  founded  by  Messrs.  Annin  and  Barton. 

1795.  John  Jay  succeeds  Mr.  Clinton  as  governor. 

“  Cazenovia  village  founded  by  Col.  Linklaen  from  Amsterdam. 

“  Baron  Steuben  dies  at  Steuben  Nov.  28. 

1796.  Forts  Oswegatchie  and  Oswego  evacuated  by  the  British. 

“  Sloop  Detroit,  first  American  vessel  on  Lake  Erie. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1798.  Yellow  Fever  in  the  city  of  New  York  from  July  to  November. 

“  Schenectady  incorporated  a  city. 

1800.  Cayuga  bridge,  the  longest  in  America,  finished  in  September. 

1801.  George  Clinton  again  elected  governor. 

“  Buffalo  laid  out  by  the  Holland  Land  Company. 

“  U.  S.  Navy  Yard  established  in  Brooklyn  March  11. 

“  Holland  Land  Company  open  their  first  land  office  in  Batavia 
“  Academy  of  Fine  Arts  founded. 

1802.  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  established  by  Congress. 

“  Sackett’s  Harbor  first  settled  by  A.  Sackett,  Esq. 

1803.  Yellow  Fever  in  New  York — about  700  persons  died  :  commenced  about  July 

20. 

1804.  Morgan  Lewis  elected  governor :  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  died :  Alexander  Hamilton 

killed  in  a  duel  with  Aaron  Burr. 

1805.  Harbor  of  Genesee  made  a  port  of  entry. 

“  Yellow  Fever  in  New  York — about  300  persons  died. 

1807.  Fulton's  Steamboat  first  used  on  Hudson  River. 

“  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  governor. 

1809.  New  York  Historical  Society  established. 

1812.  Battle  at  Queenstown,  Gen.  Brock  killed,  Oct.  13. 

“  Hamilton  College  at  Kirkland  established. 

“  Rochester  first  settled. 

“  Maj.  Young  captures  the  first  standard  from  the  enemy  at  St.  Regis  Oct.  22. 

1813.  Lewistown  attacked,  April  6 :  York,  U.  C.  taken  April  27. 

“  Ogdensburgh  taken  by  the  British  Feb.  21. 

“  Fort  George  taken  May  27 :  Sackett’s  Harbor  attacked  May  29. 

“  Perry’s  victory  on  Lake  Erie  Sept.  10. 

“  Fort  George  abandoned  by  the  Americans  Dec.  10. 

“  Fort  Niagara  captured  by  the  British  Dec.  19:  Buffalo  burnt. 

1814.  Fort  Oswego  taken  by  the  British  May  6  :  Fort  Erie  taken  by  Gen.  Brown  July 

3:  Battle  of  Chippewa  July  5:  Battle  of  Bridgewater  July  25:  Fort  Erie  at 
tacked  by  the  British  Aug.  14. 

“  Battle  of  Plattsburg,  British  fleet  on  Lake  Champlain  taken,  Sept.  11. 

1815.  Robert  Fulton  died  suddenly  in  New  York  Feb.  24. 

1816.  American  Bible  Society  formed  in  New  York. 

“  Auburn  State  Prison  commenced. 

“  Troy  incorporated  a  city:  West  Point  Foundery  established. 

1817.  Erie  Canal  commenced  July  4,  near  Utica. 

1818.  First  Steamboat  (Walk  in  the  Water)  on  Lake  Erie  built  at  Black  Rock. 

1819.  Jemima  Wilkinson,  “  the  Universal  Friend,”  dies  at  Jerusalem,  Yates  Co 
“  Hamilton  Literary  and  Theological  Seminary  founded. 

“  De  Witt  Clinton  elected  governor. 

1820.  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  incorporated. 

1821.  Harbor  of  New  York  closed  by  ice  in  January. 

“  Lockport  founded,  incorporated  in  1829. 

“  Troy  Female  Seminary  established. 

1822.  Yellow  Fever  in  New  York,  about  2,500  persons  died. 

1823.  Joseph  C.  Yates  elected  governor. 

“  Champlain  Canal  completed  :  it  was  commenced  in  October,  1816. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1823.  New  State  Constitution  went  into  operation  Jan.  1. 

“  Hudson  River  Steamboat  monopoly  dissolved  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States. 

1824.  De  Witt  Clinton  re-elected  governor. 

“  Gen.  La  Fayette  arrives  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  Aug.  13. 

1825.  New  State  Prison  commenced  at  Sing  Sing. 

“  Syracuse  village  incorporated. 

“  Geneva  College  incorporated. 

“  Completion  of  the  Erie  Canal  Oct.  26  :  grand  celebration  in  N.  York  Nov.  4. 

“  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  commenced,  finished  in  1829. 

1826.  Abduction  of  Wm.  Morgan  Sept.  11 :  Anti-Masonic  excitement  commenced. 

“  American  Seamen’s  Friend  Society  instituted. 

1828.  De  Witt  Clinton  died  suddenly  at  Albany  Feb.  11. 

“  Oswego  Canal  completed  :  commenced  in  1826. 

1829.  Martin  Van  Buren  governor;  after  being  in  office  three  months  he  resigned,  and 

was  succeeded  by  Enos  T.  Throop. 

“  Safety  Fund  Act  passed  April  2. 

“  American  Institute  of  the  city  of  New  York,  for  the  promotion  of  Domestic 
Industry  and  the  advancement  of  the  Arts,  established. 

“  Explosion  of  the  Steam  Frigate  Fulton,  Brooklyn,  June  4,  26  persons  killed. 

“  John  Jay  died  at  Bedford. 

1830.  Literary  Convention  at  New  York  on  education  Oct.  20. 

“  Col.  Marinus  Willett  died  at  New  York  Aug.  3,  aged  90  years. 

'•  Elias  Hicks,  a  celebrated  preacher  among  the  Friends,  died. 

“  Joseph  Smith  publishes  the  “  Book  of  Mormon ”  at  Palmyra. 

1831.  President  James  Monroe  died  in  New  York  July  4. 

“  University  of  the  City  of  New  York  incorporated  April  18. 

“  Tariff  Convention  at  New  York,  500  delegates,  Oct.  26. 

1832.  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  Railroad  incorporated  April  25. 

“  The  Cholera  breaks  out  in  New  York  June  27,  continued  till  Oct.  19 — upwards 
of  4,000  persons  died. 

“  Utica  and  Buffalo  incorporated  as  cities. 

“  Hudson  River  open  to  Albany  Jan.  5. 

“  Red  Jacket,  a  celebrated  Seneca  chief,  died  Jan.  20,  near  Buffalo. 

1833.  William  L.  Marcy  governor. 

“  Chemung  and  Crooked  Lake  Canal  completed. 

“  Chenango  Canal  commenced. 

“  Grand  Island  sold  by  the  state  to  the  East  Boston  Company. 

1834.  Rochester  incorporated  a  city. 

1835.  Great  Fire  in  New  York,  seventeen  millions  worth  of  property  destroyed, 

Dec.  16. 

1836.  State  Lunatic  Asylum  at  Utica,  instituted  March  30. 

1837.  William  H.  Seward  governor. 

“  Wreck  of  the  Mexico  on  Hempstead  Beach  Jan.  2. 

“  Tunnel  of  the  Harlaem  Railroad  completed  Oct.  26. 

“  Steamboat  Caroline  at  Schlosser  burnt,  and  precipitated  over  the  Falls  of  Niagara 
by  the  British,  Dec.  30. 

1838.  General  or  Free  Banking  Law  passed  April  18. 

“  Banks  of  New  York  authorized  to  suspend  their  payments  for  one  year,  from 
May  16,  1837. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.' 

1838.  English  steam  packets  Great  Western  and  Sirius  arrive  at  New  York. 

“  Battle  of  Prescott,  U.  C.,  Nov.  13,  “  Canada  patriots”  captured. 

1839.  Tenants  on  .the  Rensselaer  estate  convene  at  Berne,  July  4,  payment  of  rent 

refused:  sheriff  resisted  :  military  force  called  out:  difficulties  suppressed,  in 
December. 

“  District  School  Libraries  established  by  law. 

“  Schooner  Amistad  with  54  Africans  taken  near  Montauk  Point,  Aug.  26. 

1840.  Draw-bridge  at  Albany  gives  way,  upwards  of  20  lives  lost,  Aug  18. 

“  Jesse  Buel  of  Albany,  an  eminent  agricultural  writer,  died  at  Danbury,  Ct. 
Oct.  6. 

“  Steamboat  Lexington  burnt  in  Long  Island  Sound,  Jan.  13. 

1841.  Railroad  from  Boston  to  Albany  completed. 

“  Alexander  McLeod,  of  Upper  Canada,  one  of  the  party  who  burnt  the  steam¬ 
boat  Caroline,  arrested,  Jan  27. 

“  Steam  packet  President  sails  for  Liverpool,  March  11 — never  heard  from. 

“  First  Washington  Temperance  Meeting  held  in  New  York,  five  delegates  from 
Baltimore  attended,  March  24. 

“  Steamboat  Erie  burnt  on  Lake  Erie,  Aug.  9 — about  180  persons  perished. 

“  Explosion  of  powder  at  Syracuse,  Aug.  20 — about  25  persons  killed. 

1842.  Grand  Croton  celebration  in  New  York,  in  October. 

“  Right  Rev.  John  Dubois,  Catholic  Bishop  of  New  York,  died  Dec.  20. 

1843.  William  C.  Bouck,  governor. 

“  Land  slide  at  Troy,  ten  or  twelve  buildings  crushed  and  a  number  of  persons 
killed,  Feb.  17. 

“  Grand  State  Agricultural  Fair  at  Rochester,  commenced,  Sept.  19 — thirty  thou¬ 
sand  persons  supposed  to  be  present. 

1344.  Gen.  Morgan  Lewis,  distinguished  in  many  public  offices,  died  in  New  York, 
April  7th,  aged  90. 

“  Gen.  James  W adsworth,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  GenesetrCountry,  died  at 
Geneseo,  June  7th,  aged  76. 

“  Long  Island  Railroad  (94  miles  in  extent)  completed,  July  18. 

“  Great  Agricultural  Fair  at  Poughkeepsie,  Sept.  18. 

“  Two  persons  killed  by  the  Anti-renters  in  Rensselaer  Co.,  Dec.  20. 

1845.  Silas  Wright,  governor. 

“  Great  Fire  in  New  York,  upwards  of  200  buildings  burnt — about  six  millions 
worth  of  property  destroyed,  July  19. 

“  Dep.  Sheriff  Steele  murdered  at  Andes,  Delaware  Co.  by  the  Anti-Renters,  Aug.  7 

“  Gov.  Wright  declares  Delaware  Co.  to  be  in  a  state  of  insurrection. 

“  J.  Van  Steeuberg  and  E.  O’Conner,  Anti-Renters,  received  sentence  of  death  at 
Delhi,  Oct.  11. 

1846.  Lewiston,  Niagara  Co.,  made  a  port  of  entry,  Jan.  17 
“  Constitution  revised  and  amended  by  a  Convention. 

1847.  John  Young,  Governor. 

1849.  Hamilton  Fish,  Governor. 

“  Mob  at  the  Opera  House,  New  York.  19  persons  killed  by  the  military.  May  10. 

1850.  Explosion  in  Hague  street,  New  York.  67  persons  killed,  Feb.  4. 

1851.  Washington  Hunt,  Governor. 

“  New  York  &  Erie  Railroad  completed,  at  an  expense  of  upwards  of  twenty 
millions  of  dollars.  President  Fillmore  and  suite  arrived  at  Dunkirk,  May  15. 


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